Rodman Begins Collegiate Soccer Career Early in Spring 2026, Ready to Begin Freshman Campaign

Kelly Rodman made the decision to graduate early from high school to get a head start on her collegiate soccer career.

After finishing up at Fellowship Christian School in December 2025, Rodman headed to the University of Louisiana Monroe (NCAA Division I) to begin her collegiate academic career and start practicing with the Warhawks.

Rodman played in four exhibition games at outside back against Louisiana Tech, Alcorn State, University of Louisiana Lafayette and Grambling State University to get her start in college soccer.

“I went there in January, and we were in soccer offseason,” Rodman said. “I met my teammates, practiced and played in scrimmages [against four schools]. We only had 14 girls, and only two outside backs, so we all played a lot. The coach who recruited me left to coach at Old Dominion, and a new coach came in [Antony Blackburn]. He came in in January from LSU, where he was an assistant coach.”

The timing was perfect for Rodman.

“I was the only new girl then,” she said. “It was a God thing. I decided to go to Monroe before coach [Will] Roberts left. It was just me, but the coaches know me now. We have 14 or 15 incoming recruits this fall, so it was a blessing I got to go in first. They know me and know how I play.”

The Warhawks begin the 2026 season with an exhibition match at Louisiana Tech on Aug. 3 at 7 p.m. CT.

ULM finished 13-3-4 overall in the fall of 2025, including a 6-0-4 record in Sun Belt Conference contests. The team went 2-1 in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, including a 1-0 loss to Texas State in the championship game played in Foley, Ala., on Nov. 8, 2025.

“As a team, we want to win,” Rodman said. “We want to keep streaks going. We continue to get to know our new coaches. Personally, I want to earn a starting spot.”

Rodman, a biology major on a pre-med track, had a great start academically at ULM as well.

“It was good,” she said. “I loved most of my classes, especially the ones in my major.”

At Fellowship, Rodman helped the Lady Paladins capture back-to-back state championships in 2023 and 2024. During Rodman’s last season on the field at Fellowship, Rodman was named to DiVarsity All-Star Soccer Team and the Sub-Region 5A Girls Soccer Team. She was also selected for the GACA 1A-3A All State 2025 First Team and picked for the United Soccer Coaches All State Girls Team (all classifications).

“Winning back-to-back championships was surreal,” Rodman said. “I had expected at least one championship but two?! It was insane but we earned it. We worked our tails off for it, using skill and team camaraderie.”

She was grateful to played under head coach Andy Trevers and assistant Ron Apollon.

“Playing for Coach Trevers and Ron was great,” Rodman said. “I obviously spent more time with Andy than Ron because he was the goalie coach. But he’d always tease and joke with me, always trying to make me laugh. Coach Trevers — I can’t really put it into words. He believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself, and I know that if I ever got into a slump in my college sports career, I could call him for a pep talk and he’d respond ASAP. He’s a main part of how I pursued my college career, though he will never take the credit. I owe a great deal of this accomplishment to him.”

(Photos courtesy of Prep Soccer, Kelly Rodman)