Tulsa Goalkeeper Lends a Helping Hand

Lucas Cline saw a need and he acted.

In these uncertain times of the coronavirus, people across America have stepped up to help others and make a bad situation better. COVID-19 has closed down many businesses and has left the medical profession overloaded.

Cline, a goalkeeper on the Tulsa soccer team, saw an opportunity to help in his small town of Hannibal, Missouri.

The childhood home of Mark Twain, Hannibal sits 97 miles north of St. Louis and just off the western shores of the Mississippi River. Hannibal Regional Hospital, where Cline's father Edward serves as a podiatrist, is where the younger Cline decided that he can help make a difference.

"The hospital was short-staffed in manning the entrances since every person entering had to be screened," said Cline. "I asked my dad about volunteering, and staffing the entrance is where they needed the most help. I take the person's temperature, ask questions and direct them to where they need to go."

"I really enjoy working at the hospital. Hannibal is a relatively small town so I know most of the people there and with everything going on I wanted to do something – to do my little part," added Cline.

Cline spent last summer working in surgery at the Hannibal hospital. "Last summer, I was a surgical aide, so I had a lot of duties, from helping in the operating rooms with the nurses, stocking shelves, mopping floors and helping turn over rooms," Cline said.

A biology and pre-med major, Cline now manages his time between volunteering and maintaining his 3.65 grade point average. His class load this semester, albeit remotely, is still quite heavy with Human Physiology, Experimental Design, Biochemistry I, Introductory to Physics II and Intro Physics Lab ii.

Cline will enter his red-shirt junior season when the 2020 season opens. After sitting out his first two seasons, he saw limited action for the Hurricane in 2019 with one starting assignment in goal.

Lucas Cline in goal for the Golden Hurricane

He came to Tulsa in 2017 after starting at Quincy Notre Dame High School, where his team captured the Missouri Class 2A Sectional Championship as a senior and advanced to the finals his junior season. Cline tallied a 40-21-5 career record in goal, including 27 shutouts and a 1.23 goals-against average, while earning Top Drawer Soccer All-America honors as a senior.

"Lucas is one of the most driven players I've ever coached and a rare competitor," said Tulsa Head Coach Tom McIntosh. "Off the field he might have one of the most demanding academic schedules of any student at the university, yet he still finds time to do reading partners and other various community projects, while also being dedicated to soccer."

After completing his playing career and education at Tulsa, Cline plans to attend medical school with the goal of becoming a physician, specializing either in surgery or orthopedics.

Cline has seen where the sport he plays and the work he's doing now at Hannibal Regional Hospital has some cross-over.

"The thing that has struck me most is how important it is to communicate. No one clearly knows what is going on, so communicating well and effectively in those situations and environments is crucial. It isn't good when communication falls apart," said Cline, as he likens that communication to the playing field.

"Even on the soccer field we have to be aware of what is happening so communication is so important. It all translates into everyday life."

"What I'm grateful for is how this opportunity and the people have helped to prepare me for these types of situations because they are always telling us that communication is key," said Cline.

"Lucas puts a ton of time into his academics and still is able to find time for everything else. It doesn't surprise me that he's helping back home," said McIntosh.

As Hannibal's own Mark Twain once penned, "twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do." Cline didn't let this opportunity to do something pass him by.

Tulsa Goalkeeper Lends a Helping Hand

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