A passion for soccer that began when senior Lauren Plesse was 4 years old recently resulted in an athletic scholarship in the sport to UC San Diego.
Even as many seniors were in the midst of procrastinating on their college applications this past summer, Plesse received notice from coaches there that she has been invited to play on the team’s Division II soccer team. Plesse announced the news on July 19 via Facebook.
Like many kids, Plesse began playing recreational soccer with American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO). At age 8, she joined a club team and has since played on teams such as Santa Clara Sporting and De Anza Force, the team of which she is currently a member. She played varsity soccer at SHS during her freshman and sophomore years, and she will play this year as well. She plays outside winger and center forward.
In addition to the three to four days of scheduled club soccer practice and matches over the weekends, Plesse conditions on her own at least two to three days a week.
“I’ve gotten a good work ethic through soccer, because I know I have to eat certain things, I know I need to hydrate and stay in shape and do whatever I need to do to be the best I can be for a bigger event,” Plesse said.
Plesse began her journey to college recruitment in between eighth and ninth grade by participating in the Elite Clubs National League’s (ECNL) showcases, which college coaches are invited to attend. According to Plesse, a half dozen showcases happen each year.
“It’s a tournament, but there’s no winner,” Plesse said. “You just go and play games in front of college coaches [and hope to impress].”
To get the attention of some coaches, Plesse would email them with a blurb about herself, her playing schedule, her grade point average and her coach’s phone number in case the college coach needed a point of contact.
During junior year, Plesse started to call coaches to take a more active step in the recruitment process.
While Plesse’s top two choices were UCSD and California Polytechnic State University, she also talked to a few schools on the East Coast.
“Playing soccer in the rain and the snow isn’t really for me, so even if they did reach out, I would let them know that I wasn’t really looking to go there,” Plesse said.
When Plesse got an offer from UCSD, she was ecstatic.
“I just love playing [soccer], I don’t really know how to describe it,” Plesse said. “When you beat someone on a dribble, it’s just a very rewarding feeling. And when you score a goal, knowing that you did that for yourself, your team, your coach and whoever else is there [is amazing].”
Plesse hopes to study economics.
As an athlete at UCSD, Plesse will get first priority in scheduling classes and will have to schedule her classes around practices which take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on a daily basis. She will also have access to academic tutors who were athletes before.
“[The] girls on the team [also] help, because they have taken the classes before, and they’re upperclassmen so they can help [show] you how everything works,” Plesse said.
Currently, Plesse’s commitment is verbal and she has sent the UCSD admissions office her transcripts; however, she still needs to complete the UC and common applications. Plesse said that her commitment will be official in January or February, depending on when she signs the athletic contract.
Plesse thinks there will be similarities between college and high school soccer. She said that playing soccer at SHS has been a great chance to meet upperclassmen and make friends, and she is excited for a similar experience at UCSD.
“I know San Diego; it’s very pretty and a nice area to be in,” Plesse said. “I’m looking forward to the camaraderie and the friendships I will build on the team.”
