Allison Lipsher ’04 specialized in one thing during her four years as a Punahou varsity soccer player in the early 2000s: guarding the buff ’n blue goal. Her mastery of the keeper position and the team’s subsequent success made her one of the greatest to ever play the sport in Hawai‘i.
Lipsher began soccer at the age of five, playing on her American Youth Soccer Organization neighborhood team and competing in club soccer for the Honolulu Bulls. She made the Punahou varsity team as a freshman and during her four years as goalkeeper, the School won the ILH championship and made the state tournament every season. Lipsher’s high base athleticism – jumping, agility and speed – as well as her competitiveness and commitment to constantly developing her skills were the keys to her success.
During Lipsher’s freshman campaign, Punahou lost in the quarterfinals of the state tournament, and the next year fell in the semis. During her junior season in 2003, the School faced defending champion Mililani in the title game, winning 1 – 0. Lipsher was named to the All-Tournament team and honored as a first-team All-State player.
Punahou and Mililani met again in the state final a year later, with the buff ’n blue prevailing after a dramatic penalty kick shootout. She was honored as the State Player of the Year, the Gatorade Hawai‘i Player of the Year, and named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Adidas Youth All-America Girls Team.
Following Punahou, Lipsher started in goal for Duke University for four years, going to the NCAA tournament every season and advancing to two Sweet 16s and one Elite Eight. She then played professionally in the Women’s Professional Soccer league, the Women’s Premier Soccer League and the Australia Women’s League. She has since coached collegiately and in the National Women’s Soccer League, and is currently a scout for U.S. Soccer within their youth development pathway.