Samuel Snider '21 Recruiting Profile

As a soccer player, I am proud to say I am a leader. Before I was a freshman I was invited to train with my high school team and I befriended many teammates and built chemistry. When I was a freshman, I was a leader despite being a lowerclassmen. I started every single varsity game and played almost every single minute. I had the most assists that year. We still lost every game. I wasn’t satisfied with that result and was determined to help our school improve.

Sophomore year, I helped recruit one of my past club coaches to become our new high school coach when ours retired. As the newest (and smallest) high school in our school district, our program had not progressed much in the several years of school history. Our district allows zone exemptions to other schools, and many good soccer players zoned for Eagle River High School chose to attend nearby Chugiak High School with a more established program. I worked closely with our new coach to recruit more kids to play soccer at our high school than ever before. We went on to have the best season ever seen by Eagle River High School, beating rival Chugiak in one of our matches. We were only one loss away from qualifying for our state tournament, and I was named first team All-Conference. Two other team members were named All Conference second team. Though COVID cancelled my junior season, which is played in the Spring in Alaska, I was named a team captain by our coach and had recruited several new players to try-outs just before we were told we would be unable to play.

I would hope that coaches looking at me will see a determined and focused young man that is ready to be part of something bigger and better and will not stop until we get there. I am constantly striving to be better even in these trying times, and guarantee I will bring a second to none work ethic and attitude to any program that welcomes me. Soccer has given me the opportunity to set myself apart from others, while maintaining a healthy but competitive lifestyle that will surely give me an advantage in life later on in adulthood. I wish to pursue this optimistic dream by playing collegiate soccer while continuing my education.