FORT MYERS, Fla. - Incoming freshman Ali Rogers (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast HS) recently was featured as the Naples Daily News 2011-2012 Girl's Soccer Player of the Year.

Gulf Coast’s Ali Rogers found herself exactly where she didn’t want to be in her senior season — on the Sharks’ sideline.

A hyperextended knee cost Rogers six games this season, including the Class 4A-District 12 tournament where the Sharks’ season ended with a semifinal loss to rival Barron Collier. Without Rogers, the team captain, Gulf Coast won just once in those six games.

Regardless, Rogers, a forward/midfielder who committed to play for Florida Gulf Coast University, led the Sharks in scoring with 14 goals and eight assists.

“It stunk,” Rogers said of being sidelined. “But I had to show my face because I was the captain. I had to be that off the field as well as on.”

Despite the setback, Rogers accomplished her biggest goal — signing with FGCU. Since before her freshman year, Rogers was motivated to take her game to the college level.

“I never had a more hard-working player than Ali,” Gulf Coast coach Mark Voorhees said. “Very determined. Led by example. I knew she had it in her to get to the next level, and you look at a team like FGCU which made the College Cup tournament last year. ... She’s going to be playing with the best and I know she’ll be successful.”

An honors student, Rogers also served as the Sharks’ football team’s place-kicker, an experience she said that helped her on the soccer pitch.

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