Skyline Spartans senior Kelli Sullivan will pack her bags later this month for a trip of a lifetime more than 5,300 miles from her hometown.

Sullivan, who will play college soccer at Colorado College as a freshman this fall, will compete in the 2015 World University Games soccer extravaganza in Gwangju, South Korea in early July. The 11-day, 16-team tournament which begins on July 2, will feature incoming freshman, current and recently graduated players from the Colorado College women’s soccer team which will represent the United States overseas.

The team will begin pool play with a game against South Africa on July 2 at Honam University Stadium. Sullivan is excited to lace up her cleats with her new teammates against teams from all over the planet in the tourney.

“It is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It is really amazing and I’m just so lucky to get to do this,” Sullivan said.”It is pretty incredible to just go to another country and get to watch soccer, let alone play it. It is going to be an incredible experience. I can’t wait to do it.”

Sullivan is looking forward to playing with some of her future teammates in Korea.

“It is exciting for me because I will get to play with some of the other recruits (incoming freshman),” she said. “Most freshman don’t get that opportunity until the pre-season starts in August. It is going to be a great thing to start off my college career and get that experience with my teammates early on.”

Sullivan is jack-of-all-trades type of player on the soccer field. Her favorite position is center midfielder, but she has played forward and outside defender in the past.

“I try to be versatile and do whatever my coaches need me to do,” she said.

Having the chance to continue her soccer career at the collegiate level isn’t something Sullivan is taking lightly.

“When you’re younger you love the game and you want to play it as much as possible. When you’re in high school you think about taking that next step to play in college. It is something you kind of dream about,” she said. “At the end of the day, having the opportunity to do what I love to do for another four years and have the opportunity to be successful is a really great feeling.”

Shaun Scott: 425-453-5045; sscott@issaquahreporter.com