Carrie Saxton-Woods
The Lakes Area Showcase
Soccer Invitational is dedicated to the memory of Carrie Saxton-Woods.
Ms. Saxton-Woods is one of Michigan’s pioneers for women’s
soccer and was instrumental in establishing a local youth soccer
league. Carrie passed away in January of 2004 at a young age
of 41 but not before she had a huge impact on the importance
of women’s soccer in the Lakes Area, Southeast Michigan
and around the state at both the high school and college levels.
As a prep athlete in the Flint area she was among the first
women to play soccer with organized programs at a time when
you could count the number of girls teams in Southeast Michigan
on one hand. As an avid soccer player and fan, Ms. Saxton-Woods
did everything she could to stay close to the sport. That included
coaching younger players, referee work in area leagues and playing
on co-ed teams. Carrie graduated from Davison High School in
1981 and went on to play club soccer at Michigan State University.
It was there that she worked tirelessly to have women’s
soccer added to that Big Ten School as a recognized Varsity
sport and in 1986 her efforts were rewarded. Interestingly Carrie’s
brother, Tom Saxton became the coach of MSU’s women’s
soccer team in 1991 and continues to guide that now established
program to Big Ten and National recognition.
Ms. Saxton-Woods is credited with
introducing hundreds of young women to this rapidly growing
sport recognizing that athletic pursuits and passion for soccer
is definitely not a gender bias situation. Through her coaching,
campaigning and organizing efforts, women’s soccer in
the Lakes Area and around the state of Michigan was left with
a promising future.
Even after her passing away from cancer in 2004, her impact
on the sport and on young people in this area is still strong.
Ms. Saxton-Woods family and friends established a restricted
fund to honor her by building and maintaining soccer fields
and encouraging youth soccer in the Walled Lake Consolidated
School District. Her husband Michael Woods, 16 year old son
Dillon and twins Taylor and Elliot survive her.
Ms. Saxton-Woods friend and former MSU teammate, Julie Pacheco-Smith
Believes that there is no better way to honor Carrie’s
memory more than by putting her name on this invitational. “For
Carrie, to see so many young women playing at this high level in the sport she loved and helped
to popularize is totally fitting. Her dedication and continuous
efforts made this kind of event for girls soccer throughout
the state of Michigan popular. She exemplifies what it means
to make a difference in the lives of every young lady who now
plays the game”