BY JEFF FALK

It wasn’t unprecedented. But it was out of the ordinary.

Not unlike Ryelle Shuey is as a soccer player.

In a somewhat extraordinary move, Shuey, a junior-to-be at Elco, recently verbally committed to play collegiately and further her education at Division One Lehigh University. The decision will give Shuey, a prolific forward, peace of mind as she pursues championships and records during her final two season as a Raider.

Shuey chose the Mountain Hawks over Virginia Tech and the Naval Academy. And in a way, she also chose soccer over basketball.

Shuey won’t sign her national letter-of-intent accepting her grant-in-aid for about another year.

Shuey, a Lancaster-Lebanon Section Three most valuable player, has potted 42 goals in her first two seasons as a Raider.

As a freshman, she posted 18 goals, as Elco captured the section championship and qualified for the District Three and league postseasons. Then last year as a sophomore, Shuey tallied 24 goals when Elco repeated those team accomplishments.

Over the last two years, Shuey has helped the Raiders to a 35-8-1 overall record.

What is unclear is the effect that an ankle injury sustained early in the basketball season had on Shuey’s decision. An accomplished inside player, Shuey missed the majority of the 2016-17 hoops campaign and the Raiders suffered as well.

Last season, the Lehigh women’s soccer team went 11-5-2 overall and 5-3-1 in the Patriot League.