Roadmap to College Soccer - Volume 2

Featuring Division 1 college commits from the class of 2027 and 2026 - Giving perspectives, tips, and insights on the recruitment process.   USE THE PROMO CODE almasin30 for a discount on your first subscription   The new series of prepping players for college soccer comes at a time where crucial steps in the recruitment process may determine the difference between success and failure.  Although all statistics show that approximately 10.6% of high school girls who play soccer will go on to play at any college level, with about 2.4% competing in NCAA Division I.  With the slimmest of margins to play D1 soccer, getting advice from players who have received offers or currently play for D1 programs can prove to be valuable and insightful.   Since female ECNL players play at the highest level and make up 70% to 80% of the Division 1 pool, volume 2 continues to focus on a few of the top-level players making an impact on either their high school or club teams.  In this series, the players have made their commitments and will be joining D1 programs starting in 2027 and next year in 2026.     The featured players are [player_tooltip player_id='112158' first='Kate' last='Edrington'], [player_tooltip player_id='147209' first='Olivia' last='Barajas'], Ava Sexton, and [player_tooltip player_id='111254' first='Ava' last='Martinez'].  In order to give aspiring collegiate players perspectives and tips on navigating through the complex and challenging recruitment process, these awesome players took time out of their busy schedules to share their journey.   Here are the questions:   1. What drew you to your college?  Was there anyone in particular who recommended or influenced you to play soccer there?   2. Once you decided you wanted to play for that particular college, how did you prepare for the recruitment process?  What were some of your backup colleges?   3. What was one of the most challenging part/s of the recruitment process and how did you overcome it?   4. What has been your most memorable soccer moment as a ECNL or high school player thus far?   5. What advice would you give future collegiate soccer players as tips for increasing their chance of making a Division 1 soccer program?   6. Who are the people you would like to thank in getting you to this stage in your soccer journey?   Player Responses:   Kate Edgrington - Mountain Ridge High School - Defender - #17 in AZ and #7 in Position - Akron commit - 2027    The recent University of Akron commit continues to shine on both her high school and club team. Her ability to take and execute feedback from her coaches is what makes her a solid player. She is part of the defensive backline which kept their team in every match of the tournament. Kate is a smart player with a high soccer IQ. She can anticipate the attack and place herself in the best angle for stopping runs into the 18. She can make clean tackles in or around the box and she isn't afraid to make contact when challenging 50/50s. Edrington is a high level player who combines technique, scanning, and determination as her keys to success. Kate's leadership as a team captain and command of the defensive line has her Mountain Ridge team in first place at 5-0, with a #4 ranking in AZ and #90 in the Nation.    Kate's ECNL Highlight Video   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2Wxq4eDcRU </div></figure>   1. “What drew me to my college was honestly the coaches and the overall vibe of the program. Every time I talked to them, I felt comfortable and welcomed. I can tell they truly care about their players. The team culture felt like something I wanted to be a part of. My family, club coaches and high school coaches all helped guide me through the process. The connection I felt with the coaches is what ultimately made me want to play there.”   2. “I tried to be really proactive throughout the recruiting process. I emailed coaches, sent film and made sure I was doing what I needed to do both on the field and in the classroom. I also stayed organized with visits, emails, texts and calls. I talked to over 45 schools while trying to find the college that was the best overall fit for me.”   3. “One of the hardest parts of the recruiting process was the uncertainty. Sometimes coaches wouldn't respond right away and that could be stressful. I got through it by staying patient, trusting the process and focusing on working hard and getting better instead of stressing about things I couldn't control.”   4. “One of my most memorable soccer moments was winning in the Round of 16 at the ECNL National playoffs this summer. We were the underdogs and weren't expected to win vs Solar SC. We fought hard the entire game and when the final whistle blew we all ran to each other, hugging and celebrating. Definitely a core memory.”   5. “My advice would be to start early and not be afraid to reach out to coaches yourself, especially at schools you're really interested in. Stay on top of your grades, make strong highlight videos and always work hard.”   6. “I'd like to thank my family for always supporting me and believing in me. I'm really grateful for my club and high school coaches who have pushed me to get better and helped me grow as a player. I'd also thank my teammates for always having my back and making the journey so much more fun. I wouldn't be where I am without all of them.”   [player_tooltip player_id='147209' first='Olivia' last='Barajas'] - Buena High School - Forward/Midfielder - #121 in CA and #36 in Position - Hawaii commit - 2027    The recent Rainbow Warriors commit will definitely add some firepower to the University of Hawaii. Barajas was given an "A" rating by one of our lead scouts. Oli recently returned from Canada for the FTF Top 60 Showcase, while representing Mexico for the U17 National Team Training Camp. She continues to make big plays for her Eagles team and competes in ECNL showcases. Her strengths as being a "high-motor" player, as well as being a smart and dynamic player will give her multiple opportunities to shine at the highest levels.    1. “I knew I wanted to combine my two favorite things, soccer and the beach, so the University of Hawai'i was always at the top of my list. Everyone I spoke with shared how positive the coaching staff was, and many said there was no better person to play for than Coach Bud. My coach, Keith West, also spoke highly of Coach Bud and the type of coach and person she is. My parents also encouraged me to choose a school where I felt a connection with the coaches. From the very first conversation I had with the Hawai'i coaching staff, I knew that was where I wanted to be.”   2. “Once I knew I wanted to attend the University of Hawai'i, I made a consistent effort to communicate my interest by reaching out to the coaching staff, inviting them to my showcases, and keeping them updated on my progress. I sent highlight videos to show my development as a player. I also followed their program closely and watched many of their games to see how my style of play would fit within their program. Other programs I was interested in included San Diego State University, the University of San Diego, and UC Santa Barbara.”   3. “Fortunately, I learned very early in my recruiting process that Hawai'i was interested in me, which helped make my decision. Choosing which schools I wanted to attend was still challenging. There are so many great universities with strong soccer programs, and I wanted to find the right balance of a great coaching staff, competitive soccer, and a fun college atmosphere. The decision can feel overwhelming when considering in-state versus out-of-state options, large versus small schools, and which conference you want to compete in. However, once you truly identify what you value most in a school and a soccer program, the process becomes much easier.”   4. “My most memorable soccer moments have been with my Eagles teammates, who I have been friends with for over 10 years. I have been blessed to play on the same soccer team, the Camarillo Eagles, with the same core group of girls since I was seven years old. Although we are in different cities, we are best friends to this day because of soccer. Soccer has also given me an opportunity to travel to different states and countries for which I am grateful. I have had the opportunity to travel to Florida for ODP Regionals, Canada for the FTF Top 60 Showcase, and Mexico for the U17 National Team Training Camp, along with many other states for ECNL Showcases.”   5. “During my recruiting process, several coaches mentioned how much they respected the fact that I stayed committed to one club team instead of jumping to the next best option. This came up multiple times with different coaches and showed me that loyalty and consistency truly matter. Because of this, I would advise future athletes to find the right club and remain committed to it. I would also recommend that future Division I soccer players research the schools they are interested in and visit campuses as soon as possible. Being on campus and spending time with the players provides valuable insight into the team culture and what the school is really like.”   6. “My family, [program_tooltip program_id='283320' first='Eagles' last='Soccer Club'], my trainers, Jared Wilson and my future Hawaii coaches for giving me the opportunity to continue my soccer and academic journey.”   [player_tooltip player_id='111254' first='Ava' last='Martinez'] - Sanger High School - Midfielder/Forward - #113 in CA, #37 in Position, and #232 in the Nation - Utah commit - 2026    The recent Utah commit is continuing to score goals at a high rate. In the 13 recent ECNL matches, Ava scored 11 goals and contributed to 3 assists. She also scored 3 goals and had 1 assist at ECNL Phoenix. She's definitely a team leader in scoring and on the offensive end. Looking forward to see her rise through the rankings and make an impact at the collegiate level. She's a top-level scorer and it will be great to see her compete at the next level.    Ava's ECNL Highlights - 2025   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/avadaya08/status/1991540121418756555?s=20 </div></figure>   1. “Hideki's vision and goals for the program aligned with my own aspirations as a player, which made it an ideal fit. The connection I made with the staff during my official visit went a long way into my decision to sign to Utah.”   2. “Utah's Location and my intended major were high priorities in my decision-making process, as they ensured a strong balance between academics and athletics. To prepare for recruitment, I focused on building a comprehensive profile, including highlight videos, my academics and performing at the ECNL events. Unknown to me, I started reaching out to colleges late into my sophomore year. I would recommend reaching out to schools much earlier in the process. After the ECNL Phoenix showcase, many schools reached out, which I was very thankful for, as it provided several strong backup options with similar competitive programs and academic opportunities.”   3. “One of the most challenging parts of the recruitment process was having to start over as a senior late in the cycle, with a very short time to make an impression. However, I overcame this by channeling my perseverance during the ECNL Showcase in Phoenix that same week. It was a high-leverage situation, and I focused on performing at my best, which ultimately showcased my skills and resilience to the right coaches.”   4. “My most memorable soccer moment as an ECNL player was scoring 2 goals against [program_tooltip program_id='283257' first='Bay' last='Area Surf'] to win the Northern Cal ECNL conference last spring, the first conference title for our [program_tooltip program_id='278033' first='MVLA' last='ECNL'] 2008 team. Those goals not only sealed the victory but also highlighted the teamwork and determination that made the season unforgettable. In high school, having won our conference 3 years in a row has been quite memorable.”   5. “My advice to future collegiate soccer players aiming for a division one program is to focus intensely on yourself and your craft. Consistently raise the bar in training to build skills and mental toughness. Additionally, watch a lot of college soccer games to understand the level of play required, and use that insight to elevate your own performance and preparation.”   6. "I want to thank my parents and family for their unconditional support, and Coach Scott at MVLA for his guidance and encouragement."   Ava Sexton - Southlake Carroll High School - Defender/Forward - #69 in TX, #18 in Position, and #149 in the Nation - Texas A&M commit - 2026    The Texas A&M commit is still playing at a high level. At the ECNL KC College Showcase, she showed poise, grit, and the technical skills to quickly shut down offenses and make counterattacks to the attacking third. Ava's ability to anticipate runs to the box gave her the advantage in making big plays on the defensive side.  Video evaluations continued to show her strengths in making clean tackles, precise passes, and over the top passes to runners down the channels or in open lanes.  One of our lead scouts previously stated that “her ability in the slide tackle - both in stopping the attacker on the dribble and in blocking shots - is remarkable for a player of her height.  She possesses elite athleticism.”    Ava's ECNL Highlights - ECNL G09 - 2025   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weq2gAei3hA&t=6s </div></figure>   1. “Ever since I moved to Texas I had wanted to play for Texas A&M. When I got a call from them on June 15th I was so excited. Then when I took my visit It just solidified that A&M was where I wanted to be! The people, culture and environment was so amazing and something so different than anything I had experienced. “   2. “Leading up to my recruiting process, I knew I needed to up my game every chance I had. I made sure my qualities stood out and I kept my club coach in the loop which also helped! I kept in touch with the schools I wanted to go to consistently and I took full advantage of every chance I got to play in front of them. I had a lot of calls and it was overwhelming in some aspects and also very time consuming. Every thought I had was about the recruiting process. I talked to over 65 D1 schools, mostly power 4 during my process!”   3. “One of the most challenging parts of my recruitment process was the pressure to feel like I needed to be perfect all the time. I was constantly pushing myself in training and holding myself to a very high standard. To overcome the pressure, I just focused on my process and stayed patient as I knew the work I was putting in would pay off.”   4. “My most memorable soccer moment was probably when I played in the selection game in 2023. I cannot explain the feeling of excitement and knowing everyone is watching you play. That's the moment I knew that I really wanted to play on a bigger stage.”   5. “The advice I would give future collegiate soccer players is to stay consistent, work hard even when no one is watching, and trust your journey. Communication with coaches is important, as well as being confident in your abilities. It's also important to stay mentally strong, be patient, and remember that everyone's recruiting process looks different. Most importantly, just have fun with it!”   6. “ I would like to thank my club coaches Ben Williams and Kristin Williams for always believing in me and giving me a chance. I would also like to thank Lauren Bagwell for always being there for me and just being someone I can talk to. Lastly, my high school coach, Coach Colvin.”   Volume 3 will feature a Division 1 freshman starter and other college commits. Article dropping soon.

Featuring Division 1 college commits from the class of 2027 and 2026 - Giving perspectives, tips, and insights on the recruitment process.