Erica Swift '20 Recruiting Profile

I have been playing soccer since I was 3 years old. The game was a way of bonding for my family and I. The teams I played on were coached by my mom and she has been my biggest supporter as well as influencer to continue playing. My older sister and I played together since I started and every year I played up an age group so that I could stay on a team with her. We played together on recreational teams until we started playing for our middle school team. I took a break from soccer until my junior year to try my hand in volleyball but naturally returned to soccer. One of my favorite things about playing soccer is the team dynamic. Through playing I have learned that it is very important to develop trust and healthy communication to be able to have a strong connection with the team. One of the biggest hardships of being a goalie is having confidence. A lot of the confidence that I have while in the goal comes from knowing that my team has faith in me and my abilities. I have also discovered through my journey that the confidence I gain as a keeper contributes to the confidence I gain in myself off the field as well.

Soccer has always been a sport I have enjoyed. I started as a goalkeeper at a young age but as I got older I also played midfielder and striker. My biggest goal in high school is to do my best in every class whether that resorts in an A or not and to participate as much as possible in the clubs I am active in. My biggest aspiration in college is to graduate with a degree in international business and management as I would love to have some type of job in project/event management. Both inside of school and on the field I try my hardest to better myself and strive to put forth my best effort. My height is definitely my biggest asset in the goal. Not only is it an intimidation factor for some of my opponents but it also helps me in shortening the angle the shooters have. I also possess a long wingspan which aids in blocking shots. I work well with others, display strong leadership and cooperation skills, and pride myself in cracking jokes every once in a while to put smiles on the faces of others.

Because I like a good balance of academics and athletics, I am looking for a college that is competitive both on and off the field. I want to be a part of a program that grows through adversity and defeat and keeps their heads up no matter what. I am a strong believer in family and want that feeling amongst my teammates. There is no doubt I can live up to the expectations that are set for me and I am looking for a program that is willing to help me grow both mentally and physically.