One of the things setting Megan Oyster apart on the playing field is her lack of fear when she has the ball at her feet.

While some defenders, even at the highest levels of the game, are prone to simply launch the ball upfield when it comes to them, Oyster has been trained and is clearly comfortable with holding possession and even running with the ball.

The 2011 graduate from Chicago-area club Windy City Pride has been a fixture with regional and youth national teams, recently participating with the combined U18/U20 WNT camp in Chula Vista, California, and as an All-Star at the adidas ESP camp help last month up the road in LA.

Oyster was notable at ESP not only for her reliable and rugged defending, but her propensity for getting involved in the buildup to attack, both as a way-station in team-based switching the point of attack, and by making a penetrating run through the middle.

Her club coach Ko Thanadabouth, said such a report is music to his ears.

“She’s not afraid to try things. She’s a player born and raised as an offensive player even though at the regional and national team levels she’s utilized more at the back,” he said. “It’s no surprise to us because I know she has the technical and tactical ability to do that.  It can wear down the other team’s offense to go against a player of Megan’s ability and nature, if they have to work on defense too because of what she does. That’s our style of play for the defenders to be involved in the offense and when I say offense, I don’t just mean going straight forward, but penetrating, switching the play and stuff like that. She’s a very good weapon to have.”

Oyster, who participated at the recent U18 WNT camp at Chula Vista, Calif. along with fellow Midwesterners Rachel Quon, Emily Oliver, Allie Vernon, Chelsea Cline and Danielle Hubka, credits Thanadabouth and the whole program at Windy City for helping develop her as an all-around player.

“I first got serious when I joined Windy City,” she said. “The coaches there are hard core. I started when I was about 7 and I got in the mix with the boys. I played with them at a high level and of course it was faster than the girls and it helped me a lot. After I played with the boys and learned a lot, I started playing with the girls (at 13) and I guess I had a little advantage.”

Oyster also benefited from playing forward with the boys, to help build the foundation of versatility that serves her so well already as one of the top players in the country for her age group.

“I play everywhere for my club team. He’ll put up top or somewhere else depending on where he thinks I can help the most at that time,” she said. “I prefer center back normally, but whatever they tell me to do is fine.”

Her defensive style is one of controlled aggression. She’s strong in the tackle, good with positioning and also good in the air.

“I try to be very aggressive. I don’t like it when people beat me,” she said. “I’m very competitive and if they try to go by me I don’t think the ball and the man will make it through.”

One of the most coveted recruits of the 2011 class, Oyster said she is keeping her options open about college choices, but admitted an interest in playing out west and mentioned UCLA, Portland and California as possibilities. She also hopes to stick with the national team program as she progresses, and to be a candidate for WPS after college, just like her distant relative (and fellow Windy City Pride alum) Brittany Bock, who will be playing in Los Angeles this season.

Thanadabouth, who said her play at the recent SC del Sol President’s Day tournament was one of the keys to the team’s championship there, was adamant that for all of Oyster’s positive technical and tactical attributes, the player and her family stand out even more as quality people.

“She’s a leader, but she has a pretty fun nature about her. She blends right in with the other girls,” he said. “She’s a possible superstar but an even better teammate. I have more to say about Megan as a kid and her family than I do about her as a player. When it’s all said and done it’s about who you are.”