Loyola’s Mary Helen Burford discuses perfection, toenails and defending strikers

For a girl who loves lollygagging around the house in her Buc-ee’s tie-dye sweatpants, Loyola’s Mary Helen Burford has certainly endured her share of athletic injuries.

Ankle sprains, bone contusions, bloody noses, black eyes, bruised ribs, turf burns, torn ankle ligaments, a Lisfranc injury — the list goes on and on.

“And you do not want to see my toenails,” Burford said with a chuckle.

But “back-off” isn’t in the genetics of the senior Louisiana Tech signee whether you’re talking about her play on the field as a tenacious defender for the LHSAA Division IV state title contenders, or her academic preparation which ensures she has a bright future when her soccer days come to a conclusion.

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“Mary Helen is a disciplined defender who is good in 1-versus-1 situations,” Loyola coach Mark Matlock said. “She has a great mix of strength and speed that makes it tough for attackers to get by her. One of her best attributes as a player is an extremely high soccer IQ. She understands the game and not only understands her role, but makes everyone around her better.”

An avid snow globe collector who has a chameleon for a pet, Burford could be categorized as a bit on the eccentric side.

“I love wearing crazy soccer socks, so it’s a running joke (with the team) about what will be on my soccer socks every day at practice,” she said.

A key member of the Flyers’ 2022 state championship squad, Burford is a no-nonsense defender who takes pride in a position that often doesn’t deliver much statistically.

“I love being a defender because it comes with the challenge of hard tackles and high-pressure scenarios,” Burford said. “I enjoy reading strikers’ runs in the game and problem solving at any given moment.”

It doesn’t hurt that she has the brains to go with her brawn, for lack of a better word. She has amassed solid A’s throughout her academic career and has posted a 32 on the ACT. She’s involved in the Loyola student government, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Faith On Fire, the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor society. She’s on the Key Club executive board and a senior officer in the Faith Community Outreach Club and attends Shreveport’s First Baptist Church.

Burford loves Grey’s Anatomy but is afraid of car washes and has an unnatural affinity for green bean casserole. She also has one innate trait she’d love to dispel.

“I am a perfectionist in everything that I do. I put more pressure on myself than anyone else,” she said. “While this has gotten me to where I am today, I am working on not being so hard on myself.”

She chose Tech as the place to continue her soccer career because it offered the perfect balance of academics and athletics. It checked all of Burford’s boxes — right style of play, exceptional facilities, a competitive atmosphere, a Division I school, a genuine coaching staff and being close to home.

“I spent years finding the right fit for me, so I am very confident that the soccer program at La. Tech will become a second home for me the next four years,” she said. “The coaches not only push you in athletics, but also in the classroom.”

Matlock said Burford has played a key role in his team’s success over the past few years. Loyola is currently 12-4-3 and No. 3 in the LHSAA D-IV Power Ratings after advancing to the state semifinals last season.

“Mary Helen has always been very driven towards reaching her goal of playing Division 1 soccer,” Matlock said. “I have no doubt she will succeed at Tech and I can’t wait to watch her play next season.”

Jimmy Watson covers Shreveport-Bossier area sports. Email him at jwatson@shreveporttimes.com and follow him on Twitter @JimmyWatson6.

Mary Helen Burford file

Future profession: Medical Field - anesthesiologist

Country she's most like to visit: France or Spain

Favorite subject in school: Biology

Favorite TV program: Grey’s Anatomy

Teacher she's most appreciative of having: Mrs. Fox, my AP government and AP US history teacher.

Favorite college or pro athlete: Julie Ertz

Team she loves to beat: Episcopal from South Louisiana

Toughest opponent she's faced: St. Thomas Moore, junior year

What’s the go-to app on her phone: Doodle Jump