Rich Zutterman Photo
She only recently verbally committed to play at Centre College but Bethlehem senior soccer standout Ashlyn Miles has known for some time that she wanted to be part of coach Jay Hoffman’s team.
“I have been talking to them since I was a sophomore. I have always loved the campus and coaches,” said Miles. “I think I have known for a while where I wanted to play and I just thought it was time to let everyone know how I felt.”
She is a three-sport standout. She’s a starter on the Bethlehem basketball team that has won three straight 5th Region titles. She averaged 11.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game last year when the Banshees went 28-8.
Miles also runs track but has known soccer was her “main sport” since her freshman year.
“I have a better build for soccer and my skill set is better in soccer. I have been blessed to play three sports but soccer is the sport I love the most,” she said.
She had 19 goals and 10 assists last season when Bethlehem went 16-5-1 and lost in the regional final. In 2021 she had 24 goals and 10 assists when the Banshees were 23-2-1 but also lost to E-town in the regional final. Miles has eight goals and one assist in her team’s first nine games this season going into tonight’s match against Frederick Douglass.
“I want to go somewhere to college where I fit in and will be joining a team where I could be really successful,” Miles said. “We have a lot of good recruits coming in at Centre. I know we will be competitive.”
She liked that Hoffman never “pressured” her to commit and constantly was checking on her and her team.
“He has such a good personality. I trust him and know he will do what is best for the team to have success and what is best to push me as a player,” Miles said. “I wanted my college experience to be a balance of fun but also to work hard and be pushed and I know he will do that.”
Miles describes herself as a versatile player and Hoffman likes that she could play offense and score but also be a defender who can stop the ball.
“I will probably play everywhere. I am really good at winning balls and I think I have really good field vision. I think I am a really creative player,” the Bethlehem senior said.
Miles also liked the small class size Centre offers which is similar to what she has at Bethlehem. She also likes how close Danville is to her home.
“I have always said if I could play a sport in college I wanted to stay close to home so my parents can come and watch. Centre was definitely my top choice so that could happen,” she said.
Miles admits she has contemplated playing both soccer and basketball at Centre but felt it might be too challenging academically.
“I just decided I would have less stress and felt like I would be happier just doing soccer,” she said. “I also felt like committing would enable me to play free and not worry about mistakes my senior season. It took a lot of pressure off me and now I just want to win all we can this season.”
