Money has been money when it comes to assists
Watching Maici Money, 30, and Kate Kaufman, 10, celebrate following a Kaufman goal off an assist from Money has been a very common occurrence this season on the pitch for Hiland. This circumstance has happened 10 times already this year.
It is better to give than to receive.
Hiland senior and soccer star Maici Money has made that mantra her calling card, not only this season, which has been a record-setting campaign, but also throughout her career on the pitch at Hiland.
While scoring is the name of the game in soccer and those who put the ball in the back of the net often get all the accolades, Money has been an assist machine this season, racking up assists at a school-record pace.
In her first two years, Money accumulated nine assists, but earlier this season Money set the single-season assist record of 18 assists, which blew away Paige Gertz’s former record of 12. She also has collected 27 career assists, which tied her atop the record book with both Paige and Mia Gertz. That feat is more incredible considering she lost almost all her junior season to a knee injury.
“Maici is a great passer with great vision,” Hiland coach Conner Lee said. “She has such an awareness on the pitch and is excellent at anticipating where and when to deliver a ball that puts it in a dangerous position for the defense.”
Money sported a knee brace early this season as she recovered from her knee injury. Lee said once she removed that, it was like setting a wild stallion loose on the field, and the assists started coming in bunches.
Being the provider of goals is more than enough to keep Money motivated.
“I love being behind the scenes,” Money said. “Don’t get me wrong. I like scoring as much as the next person, but I like the assists more because I’m helping my teammates and my team.”
One particular pipeline to creating goals has been Money’s uncanny connection with star scorer Kate Kaufman. The two have teamed up for an inordinate percentage of Hiland’s goals this season, and Kaufman said the two have developed a chemistry for the ages.
“I think that connection started right off the bat for us coming into the program, but it got way stronger this year,” Kaufman said. “I think we’ve put ourselves in good position to connect, and it’s working.”
“I love being able to give Kate all the glory for the goals,” Money said. “Nothing gives me more pleasure in this game. Kate and I have a great connection. We’re on the same page. It’s not she or me. It’s we, and that mentality has worked so well this year.”
According to Lee, Money has fed Kaufman on 10 goals this season, accounting for more than half of her assists.
Between Money’s ability to dish out assists, putting players in perfect places to score, and Kaufman’s ability to finish strong, it has been a combo that has provided plenty of scoring for the Lady Hawks this season.
“For me, it’s all about helping my team win games,” Money said.
Not only has Money developed her passing skills with her feet, but also she has added another weapon to the assist arsenal this season — the long throw-in. Her strength allows her to hoist throws deep into the box, where her teammates can create scoring opportunities.
“That’s something I’ve worked hard at, and our coaches have really emphasized that this year,” Money said of the throw-ins.
Money said she isn’t sure if college will be her next gig, but she has been in contact with several schools in Michigan and Illinois to become a student-athlete. She said if she does invest in school, she will go all out, stating she would probably go eight years and graduate with a law degree.
For now she will settle for doling out assists and making her friends and teammates happy on the pitch.