Leah Rinehart has been a major contributor to the huge success of Fallston's girls soccer and basketball teams, but her sport of choice is soccer.
She was the Cougars' starting goalkeeper for two seasons and was the goalkeeper when she led the team to victory in the Class 1A state championship in 2022. She recently committed to play soccer at the University of Delaware.
Reinhart recently spoke with Aegis about his career, family and the future.
Editor's note: Some questions and answers have been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.
How did your interest in Delaware develop?
Actually, it was a very spontaneous, very last minute decision. Delaware was one of the schools I applied to without soccer. I also applied to a few schools in case soccer didn't work out due to an injury or anything. It's good to have a backup plan. I ended up getting in with a Presidential Scholarship. So I reached out to the coaches in November. About a week before I decided to enroll, the coaches called my trainer and told him they were looking for players for the class of '24. A couple of days later, I got a call from the coaches, the next day they came to my club practice, and a few days after that I went on a tour. About a week after that, I decided to enroll. It all happened really fast. I decided to enroll late, but I went and I loved it. It ended up being a really easy decision.
Were there any other schools you were considering?
I was planning on attending Rice University in Houston, Texas, but it just didn't seem like the right fit for me, so I decided to look at other schools. When I went to Delaware to tour and meet the team, I was honestly immediately smitten. It was a tough conversation to have with the Rice coaching staff, but I had no choice.
Did proximity play a role? You're 30 minutes away from home instead of half a country away.
That's totally true. I'm very close with my family. My grandfather doesn't travel that easily. I have two sisters, one of them is graduating college and coming home. My sister is going to be a sophomore in high school. Honestly, coming home on Sunday nights for dinner and having them come watch my games was a really big draw for me. … They're going to continue to be a big part of my career.
Do you still rank that state championship as your best football memory?
That's definitely one of my favorite memories at Fallston. As an athlete, the team aspect at Fallston was we were all really very close. It's a day that's in my mind like a picture. I remember every moment of it. Of course, the second of our back-to-back title wins is closer to me because I played a bigger role. But the first one, the older girls inspired me. Even though I wasn't playing much, I still felt like I was an important part of the team.
How long have you been playing soccer?
It's been about 14 years now. I started when I was four years old. My older sister was also a goalkeeper, so that's what got me interested in soccer. I watched her play and I thought, wow, this is what I want to do. As soon as I found out there were goalkeepers, I went in goal.
How do you decide to become a goalkeeper in a sport that is so focused on attacking and where little kids love to run around and kick things?
It started with the coach asking, “Who wants to go in goal?” I was jumping up and down saying, “Me! Me! Me! Pick me!” I'm fast, so I played half in centre midfield, but I always enjoyed going in goal more. I like a more aggressive style. And my sister played a big role in that.
How do you play in that position? When the other team comes down with the ball, what is your goal? How do you defend?
My style of player, I'm not a big, strong, 6-foot-tall girl, but what's very unique about my game is that I'm very quick. If I can get my hands on the ball, I'm going for it. I'm a very aggressive player. One of the words my coaches use a lot is I'm very brave. I'm willing to try anything and I'm always up for a challenge.
How important is it to work with your defenders, communicate and know where everyone is?
That's definitely one of the most important factors. Coordination and communication with the defense made all the difference. Having a supportive backline that knows what the other players are doing makes the flow smoother and rotations easier. This starts with the goalkeeper position, who can see the whole field.
You said that your older sister influenced you to start your own business, but how much of an influence did she have?
“She played at USC but had to medically withdraw during her sophomore year due to a concussion. … It's been a big help training-wise. We're able to get on the field together and we certainly play different styles of the game, but the techniques are all the same, so having her around has been a big plus.”
So, let's dive a little bit deeper into what you do off the field. When you get on the bus and go to a big road game, what songs do you listen to to get in the mood?
Funny story, “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood has always been a go-to for my team. We get the adrenaline pumping by yelling it a little before a game.
What's your favorite place to eat in town?
I love brunch so Sunny Day Cafe is probably one of my favourites, or Bacco is also a really good Italian place.
If you could time travel to any point in history, where would you go and what would you like to see?
Probably in the 1960s. I had always wanted to meet my great-grandmother, who was a professional bagpiper, and hear her play.
If you could be on any reality TV show, which one would you like to be on?
That's easy. Survivor. I'm an avid watcher and haven't missed a season in the last 3-4 years. It's my favorite and I'm definitely good at some of the challenges.