In the box, MacLeod makes it work

Hannah MacLeod is having a difficult time trying to choose between her two loves, fashion designing and soccer.

She’s got time — she’s only a sophomore.

But already, the Sage Hill School goalkeeper is trying her best to find a way to follow the directive of Tim Gunn, the erudite host of Bravo’s “Project Runway.”

MacLeod is trying to “make it work.”

When she’s not donning cleats and spitting in her gloves (it makes them stickier), MacLeod is comfortable sitting behind a sewing machine, or draping fabric over a mannequin as she holds pins in her mouth.

It’s a once-weekly respite from the rigors of soccer practice, dance, school, and training with her goalie coach, Eric Layson. MacLeod also played volleyball last season while she was still playing club soccer.

But, MacLeod said, “I’d rather being doing that than absolutely nothing.”

Her body finally said “Enough!” toward the end of volleyball season, signaling the chipper team leader with back spasms that perhaps some rest was in order from her topsy-turvy schedule.

Recently, the spasms became so severe that MacLeod was forced to miss two games playing keeper for Sage Hill, and she may have to miss more.

“She does so much,” said sophomore Meredith McDaniel, who plays right outside midfielder on the junior varsity team. “She’s really amazing. She’s great for Sage because she’s really organized. She has a great attitude toward everything no matter how stressful it gets. And she’s always there when I need her.”

Such was the case when the Lightning faced St. Margaret’s for the first time this season Jan. 14. MacLeod’s back had been bothering her that weekend, but she toughed it out, helping the Lightning secure a 0-0 tie against their Academy League archrivals. She sat out the next game against Whitney.

“She saved so many balls that game,” said junior stopper Amanda Lechner. “She’s the greatest goalie I’ve ever seen in our league or our division. I’m hoping she’ll be better for the next St. Margaret’s game because I don’t know if we could win without her. She saved us so many times. Our whole team was dedicated in that game and all of our games, but I’m not sure, if it weren’t for Hannah, that it would have been a tie game.”

Part of MacLeod’s effectiveness lies in her ball skills, and she becomes another offensive weapon. Her presence allows the team to pass back to the goalkeeper without worrying about turnovers, and she reads steals well, too, Lechner said.

So there’s more to MacLeod than ten sticky — and also very smelly — fingers.

“That holds the ball a lot better,” MacLeod said, laughing as she talked about her spit-laden gloves. “I spit on my gloves at least 50 times a game. I know it’s disgusting, and my gloves smell horrible, but it helps so much.”

On Sundays, MacLeod takes sewing lessons with three other girls, and the whir of spinning bobbins temporarily drowns out concerns about whether she should go to an fashion school to further her design studies, or play soccer in college and try her hand at designing later.

She’s hoping for something that fits as well as the blue-and-gold silk formal dress she recently crafted for herself, where she can pursue both passions.

MacLeod, who has been playing goalkeeper since she was 10, has been sketching designs since she was in sixth grade. Her mother bought her a mannequin for her last birthday.

“Usually we watch a movie, and we pop some popcorn and we sew,” MacLeod said. “It’s so relaxing because the girls in your class, you become friends with them. And I’ve had these girls in my class for the past two years. We know each other. We tell each other our drama and all that kind of stuff ... I love it ‘cause it’s Sunday afternoon when you have the most stress and school the next day and you can just breathe. I appreciate that so much.”

But if sewing gives MacLeod the opportunity to be quiet, she relishes the chance soccer gives her to be loud.

“As a goalie, I see the whole field,” MacLeod said, grinning. “I see what’s going on. I like that leadership role where I can talk to everyone and tell people to move around and tell people what to do. I like the pressure you’re under. When it’s 1-1 and you’ve got to get that ball, I love that more than anything.”

SORAYA NADIA MCDONALD is a staff writer. She can be reached at (714) 966-4613 or by e-mail at soraya.mcdonald@latimes.com.