As part of a soccer family, Crystal Heder Kosecki was introduced to the sport at an early age.
“I just wanted to have fun with my friends, especially when I was little,” the 40-year-old Kosecki said. “I was a hard worker, and I wanted to score goals.”
Kosecki carried the same basic approach through high school and college soccer. It resulted in her being inducted into the athletic hall of fame at Kiski Area and IUP.
Three certainly will be a charm when Kosecki is honored again. On May 16, she’ll be welcomed into the Alle-Kiski Valley Sports Hall of Fame during the 55th induction banquet at Pittsburgh Shriners Center, Harmar.
“The only person I know who is in the (A-K) Hall is (former Kiski boys soccer star) Stefan Lundberg,” Kosecki said. “I was thinking there’s no way I would ever get in, and now I am. I was completely shocked.”
Kosecki’s affinity for soccer should come as no surprise. Her father, Adel Heder, was a successful coach at the youth, cup, high school and college levels. He is a member of the PA West Soccer Youth Hall of Fame and retired as the winningest coach in IUP soccer history.
“My dad is the reason I became involved in soccer,” Kosecki said. “He brought us into KASL (youth soccer). I started when I was 4. It’s been a part of my life.”
At Kiski Area, Kosecki battled through some injuries to become a four-time all-section honoree with the Cavaliers.
As a freshman, she set the girls school record with 25 goals, then broke her own mark with 29 goals during her junior season.
One of her most memorable high school games came against rival Gateway. The Cavaliers rallied from a 3-0 deficit to tie the score 3-3.
“I had a penalty kick and missed. I was so crushed,” she said. “As the game went on, I luckily was able to redeem myself, scoring a goal in a 4-3 win.”
In 2001, Kosecki was named the Valley News Dispatch Player of the Year and became the first Kiski Area girls soccer player to receive All-WPIAL honors.
After graduating from Kiski Area in 2003, Kosecki headed to IUP to play for her father.
“How many people have their dad as a college coach? It was a dream come true,” said Kosecki, whose younger sister, Viann, also played at IUP. “My sister and I were very fortunate. He coached our cup teams too.”
In college, Kosecki played a key role on some of the most successful teams in IUP history. With Kosecki in uniform, IUP posted a 60-21-1 record, the best four-year stretch ever for the program.
The 2004 squad set school records for victories (19) and winning percentage (.821) and became only the second IUP team to win a PSAC title and the first selected to play in the NCAA Division II tournament.
“Four or five players from our cup team went to IUP,” Kosecki said. “We knew how to play with each other. We meshed well.”
As a forward, Kosecki was a four-time all-conference selection. She is one of only four players in program history to score more than 100 career points. She ranks fourth all-time in goals (42), third in assists (28) and fourth in points (112).
“I was successful because I was surrounded by people who knew how to play the game,” she said. “I wouldn’t have been able to do anything without my teammates and coaching.”
After her playing days, Kosecki easily transitioned into the coaching ranks.
“I helped at IUP for a year while I was studying for my master’s degree,” she said. “I coached high school (at Kittanning and Burrell) and also coached cup.”
Kosecki stepped away from teaching and high school coaching jobs to become a stay-at-home mom. She remains connected to the sport by coaching Kiski youth soccer.
“I love coaching the little kids,” the Washington Township resident said. “It comes natural to me, and it’s very rewarding. I was meant to coach.”
With her husband, Joshua, the Koseckis have five children, ranging in age from 3 to 9.
She expects to have the whole crew, among other family and friends, in attendance at the A-K Hall ceremony.
“They were good sports at the Kiski and IUP banquets. Hopefully, we’ll go three-for-three,” she said with a laugh.
Tickets for the banquet are $40 and can be purchased by visiting akhof.com.