Elite Freshman Starters - DI Soccer and Q’s and A’s - Part 1

USE THE PROMO CODE almasin30 for a discount on your first subscription   Imagine having your goal to make a Division I roster come true.  Now, what would be the next step as a freshman?  Well, for these two players, they competed for starting positions and have had opportunities to do exactly that.  It might seem far-fetched, but for these two freshmen, they have been regular starters for the Miami Hurricanes and have left a mark, as one of them is on a youth national team and the other made the Top 100 Freshman list. In the first edition, featured players Samantha Marella and Teegan Melenhorst are definitely making a name for themselves at the collegiate level.   Sam Marella is a SoCal product who starred for the [program_tooltip program_id='283395' first='Legends' last='FC'] ECNL G07 squad as well as for Viewpoint High School. My previous article on Sam and her teammates highlighted how they overcame the Palisades Fire and came together as a community to save their season and make a strong run in the playoffs. Sam finished her prep career as the #50 player in the state and #18 in position. She is a top-level player who can bring a lot to the table. Although her main position is center back, she can also play the defensive mid position. Accurate passing and a high soccer IQ are some of her strengths. Moreover, her ability to play both positions gives her the flexibility to transition as a box-to-box player. She's a confident player who can comfortably possess and move the ball from the backline and make passes to players in the attacking third. Sam is also ranked as the #87 player in the top 100 Freshmen college players.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1978229483011543151 </div></figure>   Next up is Teegan Melenhorst, the Canadian international.  She is a natural striker, with the ability to play the #10 position.  Teegan has had success at the international level, as she scored twice and recorded two assists while helping Team Canada win the 2025 CONCACAF U-20 Championship.  She is also a talented freshman who contributes to her team while making an impact in other areas.  Her strengths are in ball control, quickness, and possessing strong instincts for the game.  She's a strong player who can get back up after hard fouls and has a good work ethic when preparing for matches.  Her ability to play against much older and stronger players allows her to anticipate and play quicker and smarter.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1978225274115473627 </div></figure>   I basically asked Sam and Teegan 5 questions to give aspiring players an idea of what it was like for them to go through the recruiting process as well as tips on how they can prepare, plan, and compete for a position on a Division I team.   Questions and Responses - Teegan:   1. What drew you to your college?  Was there anyone in particular who recommended or influenced you to play soccer there?   Teegan - “I really wanted to play in the ACC and looked at a few schools in the conference. Ultimately, after talking to Ken and visiting I knew this was the school for me.”   2. Who do you look up to on the team as someone who may have helped or mentored you along the way?   Teegan - “I look up to the older players on the team as they have already experienced college soccer for many years. They have lots of good advice and experienced to share.”   3. What was one of the most challenging parts of playing collegiate soccer, and how did you overcome it?   Teegan - “One of the most challenging parts of collegiate soccer is the busy schedule and handling school and soccer. Having good time management is essential to be able to perform your best in the field.”   4. What has been your most memorable soccer moment as a collegiate player thus far?   Teegan - “My most memorable moment as a collegiate player thus far is my first start for the team in the first game of the season.”   5. What advice would you give future collegiate soccer players as tips for competing for a roster spot or a starting position?   Teegan - “Always do the individual work behind the scenes to set you apart from the rest and your time will come.”   Questions and Responses - Sam:   1. What drew you to your college?  Was there anyone in particular who recommended or influenced you to play soccer there?   Sam - “Miami was actually a school I hadn't really considered at first.  But once I went on my visit, everything changed.  I fell in love with the campus and the area it is in.  It just had a great energy to it that I didn't expect.  Another big factor for me was Coach Ken and the direction he's taking the program.  I was really excited by his vision of rebuilding the team, and I felt like it was something special to be a part of.  I wanted to build something with all the girls on the team, and I'm excited to be part of that process.”   2. Who do you look up to on the team as someone who may have helped or mentored you along the way?   Sam - “I look up to all the older girls who set the standard.  Their leadership, support, and work ethic helps push me and shows me how to carry myself on and off the field.”   3. What was one of the most challenging parts of playing collegiate soccer, and how did you overcome it?   Sam - “One of the biggest challenges for me was adjusting to the workload - both academically and athletically.  College soccer is demanding, and balancing that with school can be overwhelming at times.  On top of that, learning to play with a new team and finding your place takes time.  What helped me was staying organized, talking to teammates if I needed help, and just trusting the process.  Over time I got more comfortable and now I feel like I've found what works for me.”   4. What has been your most memorable soccer moment as a collegiate player thus far?   Sam - “Some of my favorite memories come from our travel games.  Being on the road gives us time to bond as a team in ways we don't always get to during practice or home games.  Those trips really bring us closer.  One game that stands out was against FAU.  We played hard, we worked together, and we had fun.  It was one of those moments where you could really see the potential of our team and what we're capable of when we give 100%.”   5. What advice would you give future collegiate soccer players as tips for competing for a roster spot or a starting position?   Sam - “My biggest piece of advice is to always give your absolute best in training, in lift, during games, even in how you carry yourself day to day.  It is also the little things, not just how you play on the field.  Don't get discouraged if things don't happen right away.  Stay patient and focus on improving a little bit every day.  Also, be a good teammate, your effort and attitude go a long way.  The more you invest into it, the more you'll get out of the experience.”   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1978271887756038468 </div></figure>   I really enjoyed working with both Teegan and Sam on bringing their experience to aspiring players and soccer fans.  Wishing them both continued success in their soccer journey.  Part two will feature Addison “Addy” Halpern, the 2025 Gatorade National Player of the Year and Virginia starter and one or two more of her freshmen teammates. It's gonna be awesome.  Article dropping soon.

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