Dream Is Now Reality Zane Higgins Making His Mark For Shadow
There is no end in sight for the career that almost never was.
Forward Zane Higgins, the Spokane Shadow’s leading scorer, is representing the second-year team in the United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues All-Star Premier game July 17 in Blaine, Minn.
That’s a pretty big accomplishment for a player who didn’t have a high school team and then thought his playing career was over after college.
“I’m kind of surprised, but definitely excited,” the soft-spoken speedster said of his all-star selection. “That kind of thing doesn’t come along too often. It’s just a great honor.”
Higgins puts his skills on display again today when the Puget Sound Hammer visit Spokane for a 7 p.m. game at Spokane Falls Community College.
The Shadow is just as hot as Higgins, stringing together 10 straight wins. During the streak, Higgins has had nine goals and nine assists. The Shadow are 13-2 overall and 9-1 in the Northern Division.
“When I finished college, I figured that would be pretty much it for playing a high level of soccer,” Higgins said.
Then the Shadow came along, a member of the USISL, which has several levels of leagues - including professional. That was something that caught Higgins’ eye.
“It has always been a dream of mine to play professional. It’s a goal to work for.”
College soccer, let alone pro soccer, was a pipe dream when Higgins started. A Medical Lake native, the Cardinals didn’t have high school soccer when Higgins, Class of ‘88, went through.
That really didn’t bother him too much, since he loved baseball, but he always thought he could compete in soccer. He gained his confidence through club competition, playing alongside many Greater Spokane League players on the River City Steelers.
“I knew that I would at least come out and try to play college soccer when I was done with club,” he said. “I knew that I would be able to play college, at least community college. Without playing high school, you don’t get noticed. I had to go to community college and prove myself there. It was fun, so I kept going.”
He certainly proved himself in college. Higgins, 26, was a two-time first-team all-conference selection for Community Colleges of Spokane before moving on to Whitworth. There he was a two-time first-team allconference pick and was mentioned on the All-Far West Team and honorable mention NAIA All-American both years.
Higgins is just shy of his business degree. He has trouble finding time to finish college because he is also the soccer coach at Medical Lake, which plays in the Frontier League.
However, he is certainly enjoying his good fortune.
“I’m not really all that surprised because I knew we had a good team,” he said. “I knew we had the talent, we just had to put it together mentally. That’s what we did. We just go into every game thinking about that game, not any other game. We go in thinking we will win, not hoping to win.”
It has clearly paid off for Higgins. He is the No. 2 scorer among all the premier teams in the USISL.
“Having so many good players around me, they just serve me the ball and I’ve been able to finish.”
Higgins began his playing career as a youth under Jim Walker.
“When I was growing up, I pretty much had the same coach for 10 years,” he said. “He coached when I first started playing. He coached me up through select and premier. He was a real inspiration to me getting to where I am.
“He’s only 10 years older than I am. When he started he was just out of high school. I think it’s something he was born to do. He’s the most analytical guy I’ve ever known - and soccer is like chess. He’s also a natural athlete; he’s good at all sports, and tries to take lessons from all sports and bring them to soccer.”
Walker is now coaching his daughter, who is the same age as Higgins was when he started.
Higgins sounds like he is that youngster starting out again.
“I feel like a kid, like when I was 10 years old,” he said. “I have that same kind of enthusiasm.”
It also means he has a lot to look forward to.
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