Mount Saint Mary Athletics Hall of Fame
NEWBURGH, N.Y. – Former women’s soccer standout Kelly Vail will be inducted as an inaugural member of the Mount Saint Mary College Hall of Fame on April 13, 2013.
A native of Ellicottville, N.Y. and a graduate of Ellicottville High School, Vail still holds the all-time scoring record at the Mount. In just three seasons with the Knights, Vail claimed program records for career goals (59) and career points (128).
Named the Skyline Conference Player of the Year as a senior, Vail racked up 24 goals and added three assists for a total of 51 points in 1999. Both her goal total and point total were season records until Shanice Robe surpassed both marks in 2012.
The Knights went 31-20-3 during Vail’s three years on campus. The team’s record of 13-4-2 in 1997 was the best record in program history until 2011, when the Knights went 18-4-1.
Vail graduated from the Mount in 2000 with a degree in media studies. She has worked as a graphic designer for almost nine years, while living in Buffalo and Atlanta. She currently resides in Longueuil in the Canadian province of Quebec and works in Montreal.
Favorite moment at the Mount: “My favorite memories revolve around the people I met and the friends I made. I met some of the best friends ever at the Mount, and I was lucky enough to benefit from and be inspired by so many wonderful teachers. And of course soccer…I am extremely lucky to have been part of the Mount community. My favorite memories are plentiful and too well-rounded to pick just one.”
How did your time at the Mount prepare you for your career: “I had some really amazing teachers while at MSMC. They reinforced a strong work ethic, discipline and focus. I have carried these values in my career and throughout my adult life. Playing a team sport was very influential and beneficial. As teammates, we counted on each other, enjoyed successes and suffered losses together. That cooperation and collaborative effort translates into the workforce. Professionally, that team dynamic has helped me build positive and enriching rapports with my colleagues.”
