Anyone that has attended a Salem soccer match over the last four years, despite the venue, may have had a unique experience. The phenomenon includes two major components—a quick burst of wind followed by a blur—typically results in the soccer ball being rifled toward the goalkeeper with force. Videos and meteorologists have been slow down the footage of Spirit soccer matches and determine that the wind and the blur were caused by senior Ellie Montes.
Montes has one major distinction that athletes either possess or they don't—speed! Fans and onlookers of Salem matches can definitely appreciate—unless you are and opposing defender, coach or fan, that is— and watch the 5-foot-3 Montes dart from one side of the field to another in a way that makes Flash Gordon jealous.
The Asheville, N.C., native utilized her speed during the 2019 season and tied senior teammate Courtney Chaplin for the team's lead in goals (six), assists (five) and total points (17), while attempting 55 shots (33 shots on goal) along the way. Montes started in 13 of the 16 matches in which she played, including a string of 10 straight to start the slate, missing three contests due to injury.
Her quick reflexes singlehandedly made Montes distinct in Salem's 5-4 victory over Covenant on September 7. As the highlights and game film show, Montes used her fancy footwork to draw attention from the Covenant defense, before finding an open Martha Santos, who punched the game-winning goal past goalkeeper Lucy Sandhoff with 88:04 on the clock as the Salem soccer team earned a one-goal victory.
Montes has constantly taken advantage of her speed and ability to maneuver past defenders throughout her Salem career, firing the ninth-most shots (128) in program history. She will enter the 2020-21 season eight shots shy of Nataly Mojica (136) and 32 away from Tarryn Bundy (160), who rank eighth and seventh, respectively. Of her 128 shots, 71 have been shots on goal for Montes, who ranks 12th all-time in that category.
The Reynolds High School product is one of seven players in Salem history to have earned USA South First Team East Division honors, which came following her junior campaign. After all, five of her six goals on the season came against USA South Conference affiliated schools, including two which came versus William Peace on Oct. 15. The others came against Covenant (Sept. 7), Brevard (Sept. 17) and Meredith (Oct. 1).
Montes recently discussed a number of topics to provide insight to her career both on and off the field. She made the following statements:
Name: Ellie Montes
Sport(s): Soccer
Who inspired you to play this sport and why? I honestly don't remember a certain person that inspired me. I was always really active when I was young. My first sport ever was basketball and I stuck with that until I was five and my mom said I should give soccer a shot too. Ended up joining a soccer team and the rest was history.
Describe some of the things that you have done, while being away from campus during the COVID-19 pandemic, that have made an impact on your life.
I feel like the past couple of years has been a huge growing experience for me in understanding myself. I have thoroughly enjoyed it, and with everything that has happened it has given me a lot more free time to focus on myself even more and learn more.
Favorite Food: Spaghetti hands down!
Favorite Class at Salem: Animal Behavior
What is the one thing that you have learned most by competing in athletics that you apply in everyday life? Perseverance
Best Salem moment in sports: Anytime spent with the team - traveling, in the locker room, games, practice, and outside of soccer! All of it, the time spend with my teammates I think will be the one thing I will never forget.
Plans after I finish college: Go with the wind and see where it takes me - definitely want to make investments easier rather than later
Superstitions that are in my pregame ritual: Always have to step up any step (or beginning of a staircase) with my right foot and always have to step on the field with my right foot. It's a weird one but it's true.
How did you pick your jersey number: No. 9 was my high school number and we won states so I wanted to keep that number.
Favorite person to follow on social media: Don't have social media downloaded on my phone, except for tiktok (and I really don't favor any particular person on there).
If you could travel anywhere where would you go: All the national parks in the world
What made you decide to attend Salem: The girls I stayed with when I came to my overnight stay. They were just very easy to get along with and matched lot about my personality. I also really liked the view the School had on many life matters. My mom also fell in love with it.