贵谤别蝉丑尘补苍听聽(Lyndhurst, Va./Stuarts Draft) is making her mark on the soccer field – and not just because of her cleats. The midfielder jump-started 草莓社区 in both of their wins last week, accounting for two goals and two assists.
滨苍听Saturday’s聽key win at Randolph, Rachel broke open a scoreless game with a goal聽1:48聽into the second half, triggering a 4-1 win. In the win at Hollins, she started the day with a cross to assist on a goal just 16 seconds into play. Rachel scored EMU’s third goal and assisted on another.
She added yet another assist on the Royals鈥� lone goal in a 1-0 win at Guilford to wrap up the regular season, and heads into the postseason tied for sixth in the ODAC with six assists.
EMU鈥檚 soccer women tied for seventh in the final ODAC standings, and take the eight seed into聽this Wednesday鈥檚聽quarterfinal game at top seeded Virginia Wesleyan.
鈥淚t was exciting to get some more wins,鈥� Rachel commented after the late-season games. 鈥淚t felt good to get some wins and play well together.鈥�
The transition from high school to college soccer has been fairly smooth for Rachel.
鈥淚t hasn鈥檛 been too terrible,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was a little different at first just because you鈥檙e playing with 30 new people, but once I got used to my teammates it wasn鈥檛 too difficult.鈥�
Coach Ted Erickson has noticed how his first year player has seamlessly joined the team鈥檚 existing chemistry, both on the field and off it.
鈥淩achel has come in and added a consistent piece to our midfield,鈥� said Coach Erickson. 鈥淪he visually sees the game well and can help develop an attack for our offensive chances. As the season has progressed, outside of being a strong player, she has really come in and complimented the other incoming players and they together have enhanced our team culture.鈥�
Rachel prepared for her first season of collegiate soccer with a good deal of off-season training, including summer running and pickup soccer. As for the rest of college, she is learning on her feet.
鈥淪o it鈥檚 definitely a lot harder than high school academically, and you have to learn to manage your time,鈥� she added. 鈥淪o that was a bit stressful for a while.鈥�
Rachel is keeping herself busy with 18 credit hours.
鈥淏ut it鈥檚 been good. I鈥檝e really been enjoying college…I feel like you鈥檙e kind of more on your own, so it鈥檚 nice to take that step.鈥�
Rachel is currently exploring different areas of study, centered around the STEM fields.
鈥淩ight now I鈥檓 an engineering major, but I鈥檓 actually switching it,鈥� Rachel said. 鈥淚鈥檓 not entirely sure what I want to do. I鈥檓 going to take some chemistry classes and see if I like that a little more.鈥�
Rachel鈥檚 years on EMU鈥檚 turf are just getting started, and she has hopes and goals for the future of the women鈥檚 soccer team.
鈥淚鈥檇 really like to be one of those teams that they鈥檙e like, 鈥榦h, they鈥檙e really good,鈥� you know, like one of the Bridgewaters or the Roanokes or the Lynchburgs,鈥� Rachel said. 鈥淪o that鈥檇 be really cool to see.鈥�
She also enjoys the community surrounding soccer.
鈥淭he girls are all super nice,鈥� Rachel said. 鈥淪o I鈥檇 really like to continue that same team chemistry through all four years.鈥�
Rachel first got into soccer because her older brother played.
鈥淲hen I was little, I kind of just did a lot of the stuff he did. So I played rec soccer when I was little and just kept playing,鈥� Rachel said.
But she didn鈥檛 stop there.
鈥淚 played varsity basketball all four years of high school, along with soccer,鈥� she added.
When she has free time, Rachel likes to take art classes.
鈥淚 like hiking, too,鈥� she said. 鈥淛ust doing stuff outside.鈥�
Stay tuned for more from this women鈥檚 soccer freshman in the coming years.