FALL 2021 33 quit when things were hard. But Summerlyn chose not to. She decided to stay and grow and embrace the uncomfortable, and now she is our leader in assists and plays almost every minute of each game.” Heller’s improvement gives the Patriots another element that opponents must respect. However, Heller’s biggest growth over the last five years took place off the pitch. “I accepted Christ in my sophomore year, and that’s when I became a Christian. I chose Psalm 18:13-14 as my life verses, because they began to mean a lot to me after a difficult freshman season. I think about those verses all the time when I am super tired on the field and don’t want to run. Leaning on God in these moments reminds me Who I am doing it for and shows me the bigger picture.” MELISSA JONES No one reminds the Patriots of the bigger on-field picture than Melissa Jones. “MJ [Melissa Jones] has a major impact on our team and does such a good job in her role when it comes to knowing our game model. She is a major voice on the field that helps us stay in shape,” explains Olmos. A midfielder out of Round Rock, Texas, Jones spent most of her early years learning behind former All-American and current graduate assistant Maggie Scales. “I love playing! I am glad I am trusted as a starter and play so many minutes, but I think my first two years of not starting have given me a different mindset, says Jones. “I have learned all the different roles of the team. It is important to practice and make sure you do your best to help others get better.” Regarded as one of the team’s most cerebral players, Jones’ responsibilities as a defensive center align perfectly with her team-first approach to the game. “My position is not one that usually scores goals or gets any defensive honors. I sit in that in-between spot,” MJ explains. “As long as I set you up and we win, then I am okay with that.” Schmidt, Olmos, Heller, and Jones all returned for their final year under different circumstances. As is the case for so many others, the pandemic forced the four to reconsider their futures and make difficult decisions. However, each of them is playing their best soccer at the exact same time. They’ve helped steer this year’s team to their third consecutive Lone Star Conference regular-season title and have their sights set on making a run at the program’s first-ever national title. Melissa Jones, Abigail Olmos, Summerlyn Heller, and Delaney Schmidt DON’T MISS THE ACTION! Stay on top of all of the excitment by visiting DBUPatriots.com. There you will find the latest scores, upcoming game information, the Patriot Spirit Store, and so much more! Also, Season Tickets are now available for the top-ranked DBU Patriot Baseball Team. You won’t want to miss any of their games against Missouri Valley Conference teams or other BIG 12 and national opponents.
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