Abigail Sanders '26 Recruiting Profile

My goal is to play soccer in college. I am not entirely sure what I want to pursue as an area of study, but I really like math. I’ve been told I am a leader, which is flattering because I don’t look at it that way. I did get a Leadership scholarship to high school. I do work really hard and try to put my all into everything, and I’m competitive and don’t give up. My other interests include singing, and I earned a spot on the Varsity Dance Team at school which also has won championships. I have my junior black belt in Kung Fu which I’m proud of because it took many years of training. Kung Fu stands for hard work, and my travel coach has taught us about finding joy in work, not just winning or losing.

As for soccer, I’ve been playing since I was 3 years old on a team (Socceroos) then a rec league for many seasons until I joined travel clubs. My dream has been to play on my high school team since I was in second grade when my dad took me to watch them win at Caravel Academy. Padua has earned 4 straight Delaware state titles, and I was invited to play on the Varsity squad my freshman year as a starter (playing the 8 and 6 position). It was a great season. We made it to the Semi-finals and lost in double-O.T. 0-1 in an intense fast-paced match (I played 100 minutes in that game!) I am most proud of scoring 2 goals as a midfielder this season, and I really learned a lot.

My coaches have complimented my speed and I’ve been told I’m a utility player because I’m comfortable playing in most positions (except keeper, which would not be good!) I have gotten pretty good over the past couple of years meeting players one on one, but also try to play smart and keep my technical skills sharp. I try to maintain a good attitude. While I’m all about soccer on the field, I try to be my best every day, and I’m out there smiling because I just love the game. My coaches say that’s contagious with my teammates. My one travel coach used to call me the heart of the team. He said I was the mood ring because he could tell how everyone was feeling by my reaction to things. That's why I try to keep everyone positive. My current travel coach, Kevin Schneider, gave me this reference to post:

Abby is a versatile and highly technical player who has played in a variety of roles in the midfield and attack for our team. Abby has good vision to move the ball to teammates, but she also has the confidence to take players on. She works hard while defending and reads the game well in that role. Abby consistently displays both a good attitude and a good work ethic at training and in games. She is a supportive teammate and an example on and off the field of the type of player who adds value to the team.

NCAA ID: 2304891762