Ian MacDougall has embraced his role as an important member of two athletic teams at Westfield High School.
A longtime soccer player and starting goalkeeper, MacDougall began punting and kicking for the football team last year as a junior. After a successful first season — he led the Hoosier Crossroads Conference in punting at 39 yards per attempt — he decided to come back for his senior year.
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“Soccer has always been my main passion, but football grew on me,” MacDougall said. “I tried football because I had some friends on the team, and they needed a kicker. Now, I really enjoy being out there and understanding the game.”
Both teams have reaped the benefits of his participation.
MacDougall’s solid play in net and 1.3 goals-against average helped the soccer team enter this week at 11-1-2. The seventh-ranked Shamrocks are scheduled to finish the regular season at Hamilton Heights at 7 p.m. today before their showdown with No. 4 Carmel in the Fishers Sectional semifinals Oct. 10.
On the football field, MacDougall is averaging 40.6 yards on 27 punts, while going 1-for-4 on field goal attempts with a 47-yarder in an upset win at Avon in Week 2. Coach Bo Belden also said MacDougall reaches the end zone on 80 to 85 percent of his kickoffs.
Westfield (2-4) hosts McCutcheon (2-4) at 7 p.m. Friday.
“I think he realized he could be a valuable part of what we’re doing,” Belden said. “He likes being out there with us and the guys like having him around.”
MacDougall joins the football team for special teams practice once or twice a week before heading to soccer. He practices with the soccer team daily.
“Soccer is my No. 1 priority, and coach Belden has been very accommodating in that regard,” MacDougall said. “If there’s ever a conflict with games or practices, both coaches know I’ll be at soccer.”
Throw school into the mix, and it’s a pretty time-consuming fall for MacDougall, who credits his parents, Robert and Jennifer, and aunt Susan Gath, for keeping him on track.
“From the coaches, to my family and friends, I have a lot of support around me,” MacDougall said. “At first, it was a little overwhelming, but I’ve gotten used to it over the past two years.”
Soccer coach Myron Vaughn hasn’t noticed a decline in MacDougall’s talent.
“When he’s on the soccer field, his focus is always where it needs to be,” Vaughn said. “I never had an issue with him joining the football team. I saw it as an opportunity for a young man to do something he enjoyed and further his athletic ability.”
With his senior seasons winding down, MacDougall has begun to weigh options for the future. His preference is to play college soccer — his top choices are Indiana University and IUPUI — but he wouldn’t rule out playing football if a scholarship offer was available.
“At this point, I’m leaving the door open,” MacDougall said.
