The 2026 soccer season hasn’t been what Omaha Marian senior captain Paige Miller had envisioned.
After suffering a torn ACL while playing club soccer in June of 2025, the Husker signee had to make adjustments. One of those adjustments is learning to lead differently.
“It’s definitely been a little bit different,” Miller said of watching from the sidelines. “Not what I expected or hoped for. I am just happy to contribute to this team any way. If that’s leading from the sidelines, then I’m perfectly OK with that, because being even part of this team is so extraordinary. I can’t imagine a better team to be a part of.”
It’s been “incredible” leadership, Crusaders coach Teresa DeGeorge said of Miller this season.
Miller, a self-described quiet person, has always let her play do the talking. In the past 11 months, she’s learned to pour into her teammates with her words.
“I’m not really a loud person,” she said. “ In the past few years, I’ve led by example more so than being vocal. I feel like this year, I’ve been able to be more vocal, and I’ve kind of found my voice a little bit more, and I’ve been able to encourage these girls and give them corrections when I see them.”
Then came Saturday, with the state semifinal against Kearney tied 1-1 at the half. Miller rose and used her voice.
“She gave the halftime speech,” DeGeorge said. “Uplifting the other players, giving them her energy to get inside their bodies and do what her body knows it can do.”
That speech was one of fire and passion and not wanting her senior year to end without a trip to the state championship game.
“I kind of said, ‘How bad do you want this game?’ I said, ‘I want this game so bad.’ As a senior, it’s our last state tournament,” said Miller. “I want to put it all out on the field, and I know for us seniors, we want this game.
We want to win this game. And I told the girls, if you’re not going to play hard for yourselves, do it for us seniors, because we do not want this to be our last game.”
Miller hasn’t been healthy enough to be cleared to play in games or full contact yet, but having her on the practice field and in a uniform has certainly helped.
“I’d say almost up to full speed,” DeGeorge said. “It’s just the contact and that kind of thing; she has to kind of back out of those. But having her out there just for speed of play, knowledge, body movements, talking about how she moves and how she runs through the ball. It’s teaching moments for the other players and having her right there.”
There have been setbacks in Miller’s recovery. The goal was to be on the field at some point this season to help her team.
“There have been games where I was, like, ‘Oh, I wish I had been in there. I wish I could have experienced this,’” she said. “I love being on the sidelines and being able to cheer them on, but it’s different than being able to play these games. And I would say a lot of girls kind of know when I’m upset because I’m usually more loud and encouraging on some days rather than others. And those girls always notice those small hints I give.”
Although she is not playing, Miller’s teammates and the Marian coaching staff have been there for her when they have seen the frustration.
“They’re always giving me encouraging words and are picking me back up,” Miller said. “Even coach Delaney (Stekr), there was one practice where I’d just gotten done with testing. It didn’t go how I planned. She took a walk with me, and I kind of just let loose and told her what had happened and she gave me the encouragement and support I needed.”
Tuesday night, Miller will walk onto the Morrison Stadium pitch in her uniform with her teammates and coaches by her side for one last time, with a state championship at stake.
When she does, it will be with the same captain band she’s worn all season.
“It’s meant so much,” Miller said of being named captain. “When the girls voted me captain, I was so shocked. I know the coaches saw my face. It means so much. I love leading this team. I love helping any way I can.
And for them to acknowledge what I’ve done and the support I’m willing to give, it means a lot.”
