Madison Guy prides herself on being able to see what is developing in front of her.

So it should come as no surprise that for a long time, Guy has seen soccer in her future.

鈥淚 am good at reading the game, seeing what is in front of me,鈥� Guy explained.

鈥�(And) I knew I wanted to take it somewhere.鈥�

And where the game has taken her is from 91原创 and to UBC, one of the country鈥檚 perennial women鈥檚 soccer programs, with an overseas stop in between.

Guy spent just over a week with the Irish U19 women鈥檚 national team in August, playing in two friendlies for the country in Scotland.

鈥淚t is a really cool experience because my family is from there,鈥� she explained.

鈥淎nd I go to see them, which is really nice.鈥�

All of her mother鈥檚 side of the family 鈥� aunts, uncles and cousins 鈥� live in Ireland.

This was Guy鈥檚 second time with the Irish side, having also gone in January.

Eligible to play for Ireland, her maternal grandmother is from there, Guy had contacted the national team as a way to gain some international experience.

Her play must have left an impression as she was given the invitation for the August friendlies.

Her trip required her to miss part of the UBC training camp, but now that she is back, her focus is squarely on helping the Thunderbirds.

鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to stepping into a new environment that I know will be challenging and achieving the ultimate goal of winning a national championship in the (Canadian Interuniversity Sport),鈥� she said about playing for the Thunderbirds.

鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 be more excited.鈥�

The feeling is mutual.

鈥淚 am a big fan of Maddie鈥檚,鈥� said UBC coach Mark Rogers.

鈥淗er attitude is an example for her teammates and she is real tough-tackling, hard working kid with real underrated technical ability as well.鈥�

Guy, who turns 18 (Oct. 25) later this month and graduated from Brookswood Secondary in June, has been playing soccer for a dozen years.

鈥淲hen I was little, I just loved the game,鈥� she said, explaining that her parents tried her in a couple of different sports, none of which kept her attention.

鈥淎s soon as I started to play soccer, I couldn鈥檛 stop,鈥� she said.

鈥淚 would go outside everyday and kick the ball around.鈥�

Guy played for the first six years in 91原创, before switching to Surrey at about age 13.

It was around this time that Guy realized the sport could take her places.

鈥淚 knew I wanted to take it somewhere,鈥� she said.

From 2007 to 2010, Guy was part of the B.C. provincial team 鈥� and served as captain 鈥� as well as attending the national training centre.

It was here she was first coached by Rogers about five years ago.

鈥淪he is a lot of fun to coach because she gives her all every time she goes out there,鈥� he said.

鈥淥bviously at this level, you have to have more than just attitude, you have to have ability.

鈥淪he is not just a hard worker but a good soccer player as well. What makes her special is her commitment to training and the game.鈥�

She also played for the Whitecaps FC Prospects and then played with UBC鈥檚 entry in the Pacific Coast Soccer League over the summer.

Now she finds herself playing with UBC, which she calls the perfect fit.

鈥淚 chose UBC because it had everything I was looking for in a university,鈥� Guy said, pointing out it is a top academic school as well as a perennial national power in women鈥檚 soccer.

It also helped that it was close to home in 91原创.

As for the jump to university soccer, where she can be matched up to girls four and five years her senior, Guy feels her time with the Whitecaps program will be a boon.

鈥淚t will be a challenge but I am pretty confident and I鈥檓 ready to work hard,鈥� she said.

While the sample size is still small, Rogers likes what he sees out of the freshman midfielder, who has started three of the nine games so far for UBC as they have a 6-1-2 record and have qualified for the Canada West playoffs, which begin Oct. 27.

鈥淪he has given good minutes to our team as a first year player and contributing very well,鈥� Rogers said.

鈥淔or players of that type of attitude and determination, you are looking for opportunities to give them chances with the first team.

鈥淓very time I have given her those chances, she has definitely risen to the occasion.鈥�