“BSC’s Lamothe a real soccer mom” – by Jim Fenton from The Enterprise (Brockton), Wednesday, December 10, 2008

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- She put together the best offensive season in the history of the Bridgewater State College women's soccer program this fall.

With 22 goals and 52 points, Kaitlin Lamothe broke school records that had stood for 16 years, helping the Bears go 11-4-3 and share the regular-season title in the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference.

Like all college athletes, the senior forward had a busy schedule and had to find enough time to balance academics and her soccer commitments.

There is also another part of her life that made things a bit more hectic for Lamothe, the student and soccer standout.

The 22-year-old Lamothe is the mother of a daughter, Addisyn, who turns two years old later this month.

"It's definitely busy,'' said Lamothe, a senior who was one of the top players in the Hockomock League when she was at King Phillip High. "With the workload, you really have to have time management. She goes to sleep, and I do my homework. You have to be very organized.''

Lamothe spent the 2005 season playing in the Big East for Syracuse University where she appeared in 20 games and had a goal, averaging more than 30 minutes of time.

She became pregnant and delivered Addisyn in December 2006 and was back in Massachusetts, leaving Syracuse and, it seemed, soccer behind. 

She transferred to Bridgewater State, but soccer did not seem like part of the plan, given all Lamothe had going on.

"I definitely missed it,'' she said. "I had family and friends who kept telling me to go out at Bridgewater and play, and I'm glad I listened to them.

"Something was missing when I wasn't playing. I love soccer. I would have regretted it. My mom (Nancy) told me there was a small window to do this and that I should keep playing.

"My mom did a lot of baby sitting. I had a really big support system. My family, they are my No. 1 fans.''

Lamothe returned to soccer in the 2007 season, scoring 11 goals and two assists in 16 games for BSC. She is fourth on the school's all-time list with 76 points (33 goals, 10 assists) despite playing only two seasons and broke the single-season records that were held by Kathy Conley since 1992.

The Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference named Lamothe the player of the year after a season in which she had four game-winning goals. The health education major, who has a 3.52 grade-point average, was also chosen to the ESPN All-Academic third team

Playing in a summer league in Franklin six months after having the baby got Lamothe ready for the return, helping her get back into playing shape.

"I thought it was going to be a lot harder, but it was like riding a bike,'' said Lamothe. "You get back in the groove. This year, I was in even better shape and I knew the players and the coaching style.''

It all added up to a season to remember for Lamothe, who is pondering whether to return next fall as a fifth-year senior when she'll be pursuing a Master's degree.

"I never imagined I could do as much as I did this year,'' said Lamothe, who was picked to play in the New England Women's Intercollegiate Soccer Association Senior Bowl. "I looked at last year and I couldn't believe I did that. To do all of this was amazing.''

Lamothe's daughter was on hand for her mother's games during the record-setting season.

"It was great,'' said Lamothe. "I'm just so happy I did it for myself and for her. When she gets older and sees what a good student and athlete I was, she'll see that you can do anything you want. You can overcome obstacles.

"I hope that she will be proud of me and if anything ever comes up in her life, she can look at this as a reference that you don't have to give up. Your family will be there to support you.

"It was very inspiring to see her at games with my mother. Everything I do is for her future.''