SAN DIEGO (KUSI) -- Out at Cathedral Catholic resides a hardworking goalie, Maria O'Brien. Maria now in her 4th year starting for the Lady Dons Soccer team, but when she's not impressing on the field. She also turns heads with her artistic side.
When assigned to draw a portrait of someone important in her life, Maria deciding to draw her Head Soccer Coach Dawn Lee.
Not only touching the heart of Coach Lee from the sentiment in itself, but also adding a sweeter touch to the portrait that hits close to home for Coach.
"I didn't know when I was gonna see it, and then she asked if I could meet her in her class.. and then that's when she revealed it to me and it was very touching and she added some lady bugs which is just another side story with our team."
When asked of the deeper meaning behind the added lady bugs, Coach Lee opening up and sharing, "I took over coaching for my father [Butch Lee] when he passed away from brain cancer and the day that I told the team that he had passed away since it was during season, there were lady bugs everywhere. When my alumni see a lady bug, they'll text me I just saw a lady bug and thought of you so I guess it's a team symbol in a way. To see the finished product I was shocked, amazed and obviously made me so happy and thought it was so thoughtful."
When talking to Maria, it's not hard to pick up on her kindhearted nature.. when asked if her teammates were aware of artistic side.. Maria saying "No, not really. I don't talk about it much."
Maria also sharing, "I decided to draw my coach because she was one of the first people that popped up in my head for it... when I think of my coach I think of someone who is very supportive, happy, and outgoing. Someone who is always there for you."
Coach Lee adding the importance of her relationships and them spanning beyond the pitch, "You know this is my 27th year and that's the most important thing, sure as a coach we wanna win but if I don't have those relationships with my girls, once they leave after the four years then I haven't done my job so I think it's super important. It's why I love what I do and it's why I keep doing it."