Elilta Kloehn '25 Recruiting Profile

I grew up playing soccer in Gambella, Ethiopia.  We had very primitive methods, yet we had a great deal of fun.  When I was adopted at age 5 and moved to America, my brother and I continued playing soccer.  This time, we had nets, balls, cleats, and later goalie gloves for me.  What I loved was seeing how similar the game is from Africa to here.  When I was younger I started off as a field player and didn't excel as well as the other girls, my touches weren't the best and I didnt have the best shot either so my coach offered to play me as a goalie. I had played goalie for 8 years and had excelled at the position, I'm now 15 years old and don't feel the passion anymore when I make a great save. I've always struggled with what positions I've wanted to play, and it made me realize it's never too late to try something new. So this past year I've been moving away from goalie and focusing more on the field, I've really shined on the field this past year. I've been playing mainly left-wing or forward, just the thought of being able to kick the ball into the goal gives me so much joy and excitement. Whenever I'm out on the field I will always find a way to be an open player and make a quick one-two or a quick run for my teammates. I'm also able to move off the ball quickly and communicate with my teammates when I'm open or when they have a man on. I'm also very competitive when it comes to one on ones and trying to win the ball back. I have a burning passion to make an assist to one of my teammates and the thought of being able to dribble past someone gets me even more eager to go toward the goal. Academically I have to work on the core subjects, finding math the hardest.  But I am a strong student and like the arts the best - music, choir, drawing, and theater.