Having a player you can plug into multiple spots in a lineup is a blessing most coaches aren’t fortunate enough to have. Northwestern incoming senior Abby Chisdak might be the prototypical athlete for that role.

During last school year, Chisdak’s coaches utilized her in a number of different positions. Soccer head coach Kelly Bleam shifted her between defense and the midfield/forward area. Chris Deutsch, the basketball head coach, was able to use her as a guard or forward depending on matchups.

That flexibility allowed Chisdak to experience much success on the soccer field, basketball court and track during her junior year. For that, she is recognized as the Northwestern Press Female Athlete of the Year.

“I started off in the back, and then she moved me up toward the middle part of the season,” Chisdak said of her the 2016 soccer season. “And then one of our stronger center backs broke her arm, so she was out, and I got moved to the back. I guess I played really well back there.

“When they needed a goal-scorer, I went up top. Wherever she needed me is where I went.”

Chisdak plays soccer year-round and recently switched her club team to Lehigh Valley United, where she is now coached by Bleam as well. And there, too, she is used on the field wherever necessary.

During the high school season, Chisdak helped guide the Lady Tigers to another trademark season that Northwestern had been accustomed to in recent years. She scored 12 goals and added nine assists as the Lady Tigers qualified for both the Colonial League and District 11 Class 2A playoffs.

“I’m proud that we made it that far,” Chisdak said. “We battled really hard in the Salisbury game [in the District 2A quarterfinals]. Nobody scored for awhile, and they got a lucky shot. I’m proud of how we battled that hard, because we were battling a lot of injuries.”

But one thing still eluded Chisdak and the Lady Tigers-a championship. She tasted both league and district titles in her freshmen season, but has since came up just a couple games short the past two years.

With her senior season just around the corner, Chisdak hopes to lead Northwestern back to a gold medal celebration on the field, this time as a senior leader. And she’ll play wherever the team needs her in order to get it done.

“I definitely want to win both leagues and districts,” Chisdak said. “I definitely think we can. We have all the right abilities to do it. We have all of the people that can do it.”

Chisdak’s versatility was seen just as much on the hardwood. She could bring the ball up the court and handle it if necessary, or play in the post where she used her height to her advantage. A starter last winter, she averaged 4.5 rebounds per game despite mostly being used as a guard for Deutsch.

“She plays like a guard/forward combo,” Deutsch said. “Usually with her we’ll put her on some of the better offensive players of the other team. She is a very good defensive player.”

The lanky combo guard didn’t score a ton of points-she averaged just about five points per night-but her impact was felt in other areas. Chisdak nearly always guarded the opposing team’s best player, took care of the basketball when called upon, and always followed Deutsch’s instructions.

“In basketball I’m mainly a guard, but I do play both,” Chisdak said. “I switch from a guard to a forward because I do have height.

“There is a group of seven of us that have been playing together for who knows how long. We grew up together and we know how each other plays.”

During the Lady Tigers’ quarterfinal run in the SportsFest A-Town Throwdown tournament, Chisdak was a viable piece in Northwestern going a perfect 3-0 in pool play. But after she led the Lady Tigers to two wins on Saturday, she packed up for a soccer camp at Lock Haven University that featured plenty of college scouts for the next four days.

It’s been a busy summer for the rising senior, as is every high school season. After soccer in the fall season and basketball occupying the winter, Chisdak competes on Northwestern’s track and field team in the spring. It’s mostly to stay in shape for soccer and basketball.

Chisdak was running well in a number of events in spring before an appendicitis cut her season short. Her focus was in the 200- and 400-meter dashes, along with the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams.

Now she’s back at 100 percent, but her main focus is on soccer as the summer winds down. Practices for the upcoming fall season will be here shortly, and Chisdak’s summer team recently competed in the championship game at Whitehall High School. In a couple of weeks she’ll be preparing to bring her high school team a championship, too.