This year, four girls varsity soccer players have committed to play in college. Here’s what they have to say:
What did this last season mean to you?
Jules Vano: This last season meant a lot to me because it was my final time playing high school soccer. I have been on this team since my freshman year of high school and it was crazy that it was finally over.
Kristin Linahan: This last season of high school soccer meant a lot even if I wasn’t playing. It was amazing to see this team continue to rise from challenges throughout the season. Additionally, it was awesome to see my sister play this year as a freshman.
Emily Ward: This season meant everything. There is no other team I would have wanted to end my Yorktown soccer career with. They truly are my second family and, of course, I’ll remember the games and competition, but what I will miss most is the memories made with my teammates.
Rachel Gevanthor: This last season meant an extraordinary amount to me. Senior season has been everything that I have been working towards since I started playing in 1st grade. Senior Night was a very emotional and unforgettable night that I will cherish forever.
What was your best high school soccer experience?
JV: Beating Somers this season at home and the team running on the field cheering and hugging.
KL: Probably my sophomore year on the team as a whole. We went really far and I became an impact player for the team which was very exciting. It was also a great team atmosphere since everyone was on the same page as to the goals we had as a team.
EW: The best memory took place this season when I came to pick up my car from the school parking lot (after being injured and returning from the ER) and found a note on my windshield saying “WE BEAT SOMERS!”
RG: My best high school soccer experience was tying in the Harrison game in the Fall season of 2021. With under ten seconds left on the clock, Emily Ward scored one of the most beautiful goals I have ever seen from the far left side of the field, soaring into the top right of the goal, just over the goalkeeper’s hands. We all sprinted as fast as we could and jumped around her. When the final whistle blew, we all collapsed into a dog pile.
What is the hardest challenge you’ve faced in your soccer career?
JV: The hardest challenge was deciding if soccer was what I wanted to do, but one day my decision was easy.
KL: My recruitment was probably the hardest challenge. It was a long 18 months full of traveling, ID clinics, emails to coaches, and handling rejection or inconsistencies with coaches which can take a toll on you mentally.
EW: I am currently dealing with the greatest challenge of my career as a soccer player. I got injured during our home game against Somers and am in my process of recovery. I am hopeful to be cleared in time for college pre-season in July of 2023. This challenge has only made me appreciate the sports I love even more. I’m so incredibly grateful to my teammates and coaches for all of their support and encouragement during this journey.
RG: The hardest challenge I have faced in my soccer career is people underestimating my worth. They look at me, a small five-foot-two defender, and immediately think I am unqualified to play against bigger girls. The truth is, you don’t have to be big to play soccer; you have to be able to play big – using your body to your advantage by shielding and being physical. Once coaches played me on the field they often saw my value, but actually getting a chance to play was very difficult for me.
What does playing in college mean to you?
JV: Playing in college means a lot because it has been my dream for as long as I can remember.
KL: Playing in college to me means being able to play highly competitive soccer with people who match my intensity of wanting to be successful and willing to put in the work to improve. However, being surrounded by an amazing team culture and coaching staff that are serious can still be approachable and understanding.
EW: I am beyond grateful to have received the opportunity to continue to play the sport I love during the next chapter of my life at Virginia Military Institute. There have been so many coaches, friends, and family that have helped get me to this point and have influenced me as a player and person. I will continue to use their advice, tactics, and lessons on and off the field at VMI. I am not ready to say goodbye to the sport I have been involved in for as long as I remember. It’s hard to think about my daily life without my family, friends, coaches, teachers, and my “Yorktown routine”.
RG: Playing in college means that I have reached a point in my life that I never thought possible. As a freshman, I was convinced I wasn’t skilled enough to even be able to play college soccer. As I shifted my focus and pursued my passion for teaching and coaching, it became clear to me that I wanted to get a more personalized education at a small school, so I started looking at small liberal arts colleges. It just shows how unpredictable life can be.
Why did you choose the college you chose?
JV: It was everything in a campus I was looking for. Not too far, not too close. The team is awesome and the coaching staff is what I was looking for as collegiate coaches.
KL: I chose McDaniel College because I loved the team community and atmosphere. The coaching staff is great. I definitely believe that I’m in good hands for when I arrive in the fall. Their athletics are also very competitive, being in one of the most competitive and difficult conferences of the Division 3 level. McDaniel checked off everything I was looking for in a school and I’m super excited with the decision I have made.
EW: I chose VMI because of the family bond that is created and the physical and mental challenge that lies ahead. The VMI alumni, cadre, and cadets take care of their own and respect traditions. I am extremely grateful for the opportunities provided by VMI. This experience will teach me how to become an effective leader and the importance of serving others.
RG: I chose Dickinson College because of the morals of the coach. He believes in SRGTA: Selflessness, Relentlessness, Grit, Tenacity, and Accountability. These are all values that I hold myself accountable for and I loved that he preached them. Their academics were also a great fit for me, with very small class sizes and personal relationships with professors, yet still providing a great liberal arts education. All of the girls also are extremely supportive and have a lot of fun but work extremely hard during practice and games, a culture that I am privileged to be a part of.
What are your goals for the rest of your soccer career?
JV: My goals are to continue to put everything I have into this sport and see what the future holds.
KL: Goals I have for the rest of my soccer career are separated into short and long-term. My short-term goals are to get back better than I was before I tore my ACL and hopefully go far into my club season. Long-term goals at McDaniel include winning a Conference Championship, going far in the NCAA tournament, and potentially becoming an All-American.
EW: My goals for the rest of my soccer career are to come back stronger, be the best teammate I can be, help VMI’s success on the field and not take any practice or game for granted.
RG: My goals for the rest of my soccer career are to fully recover from my recent ACL tear and just be able to enjoy playing the game that I love again. It is going to take a tremendous amount of work and dedication, but the long-term goal is to earn my spot as a starter at some point again in the future.
What do you owe your success to?
JV: My family for their unconditional support throughout my whole career.
KL: My family and coaches. They have helped lead the way through my soccer career and I’ve learned valuable lessons. My parents have put in a lot of time whether it was with travel to showcases/clinics, helping me write emails, and showing their support throughout my career. I’ve had many coaches throughout my career as well and I’ve learned from all of them. The influences of these people helped shape me into the soccer player I am today.
EW: Everyone who has crossed my path in my life. My parents, sisters, extended family, coaches, friends, and teachers. ALL of them have impacted my life in various ways. I wouldn’t be on the path I am today without all of them and their wisdom and guidance.
RG: I owe my success to my mom for always driving me to practices and games on time and her patience with my attitude after we lost, or I played poorly in a game. I also owe it to the countless hours I spent with my club coach and family friend, Jen Ward, helping me regain my confidence and continue improving drastically each year in high school.
Any last words?
EW: Thank you Yorktown, Army, Coach Joyce, Coach Sat, and Coach Zoran:)
RG: If you have the opportunity to play on the field at any level, do not take it for granted. Any game could be your last. If you are signing up for a sport and take a jersey, make sure you work hard every day to continue earning it. Playing sports isn’t something you are entitled to. It is a privilege, but many athletes often forget that.
