Julianne Souza '19 Recruiting Profile

As soon as I could walk, I was always seen with a basketball in my hands or a soccer ball at my feet. You could find me throwing a football with my dad, twirling around on the dance floor, or playing kickball with the neighbors. Since kindergarten, I was involved with soccer, dance, basketball, softball, and Girl Scouts. Although dance was my first true love, I soon became more interested in team sports. The most valuable lesson I learned from dancing is what it means to have immense discipline, which is something that propelled my athletic success in the years to come. As I got older, I continued in all of those activities, but slowly dropped softball, Girl Scouts, and dance to focus on soccer and basketball, which were played in different seasons in New Hampshire. At the age of 9, I started playing travel soccer in my town of Hooksett, NH. Until I was 13, I was a “bubble” kid, and played on the “B” team while occasionally being pulled up to play with the “A” team. I believed I was good enough to play on the higher team, so it pushed me to improve my game and show the coaches where I knew I belonged. By the end of my first travel season, I was officially put on the roster for the top Hooksett travel team, which played up one age division. In 7th grade, my travel team became a premier team in the MAPL league. My coach played me as left outside back for my primary position. Towards the end of my 8th grade season, he switched me to center-mid because of my stamina and ability to defend and attack. We dominated our bracket and won many tournaments throughout New England during those 2 years. In 7th and 8th grade, I also participated in my middle school soccer team, where I mainly played outside or center midfield. Both of those years we were defending district champions.

After 8th grade, I moved to Oviedo, Florida. My freshman year I made JV soccer at Hagerty High School, and my coach saw potential in me as a forward. I started every game, and ended up becoming the top goal scorer of the season, as well as Offensive MVP. We won the JV tournament at the end of the year, and were named #1 in our district. Sophomore year, I was appointed JV captain, and again became the Offensive MVP and top goal scorer. Maximizing on my success the last year and a half, I worked my way up to becoming a varsity player in the middle of the season, where I started in our semi-final district game. This year, I also began club soccer, playing for Florida Kraze Krush. My coach originally started me as an outside wing, but I have since then moved to forward and center-midfield. Playing center-mid and forward fit me well because I am fast and agile, and can effectively take players 1v1. I work tirelessly to create opportunities for my teammates to score on my assists, while also producing ample opportunities to score myself.

Being a multi-sport athlete, I also played basketball in NH in a competitive travel league and for my middle school. When I started my freshman year, I was told I could not play two sports in the same season. However, my determination and persistence allowed to me succeed in playing both JV soccer and basketball during the winter season of my freshman year, and JV lacrosse for spring season. This year, I played varsity soccer and varsity basketball for the winter season and JV lacrosse again my sophomore year. Being a tri-sport athlete has helped me become a more well rounded soccer player. Basketball has helped me develop quick starts and stops, which is a fundamental to defend a player when they make quick moves. Lacrosse has helped me develop better stamina, as I play middie for this sport. As much as I enjoy these other sports, my passion is soccer. To dedicate myself to becoming a soccer player ready for collegiate play, while also focusing on my rigorous academic commitments, I will stop playing basketball and lacrosse next year to focus on my development in soccer.

All my life, I was taught that the most important aspects of my life are my family and academics, respectively, and everything else comes after that. I have been in accelerated courses since elementary school, and I work hard to maintain good grades. I have been on the honor roll every semester since 6th grade. I have taken 2 AP classes so far, and I am currently two years ahead of the average pace for math classes. As of right now, I am still thinking about a major. Criminal justice and forensic science interest me because I have always liked the idea of using creativity to solve challenging puzzles.

I also have other hobbies besides sports. From 3rd to 8th grade, I was in the school band playing the saxophone. My 8th grade year, I was elected president of the band. Living in Florida has been great because I love being able to play sports and be outside year round, whereas in New Hampshire snow would be an obstacle. I easily made friends through sports teams during the summer and school seasons. I was told by the high school administration that it would be difficult to participate in band and 3 sports, so I decided to end my musical career after 8th grade to focus on athletics. I also am very artistic and enjoy making many types of art. I have taken 4 art classes already throughout high school, with one being an AP course. Another activity I have become very involved in is my church; I enjoy attending services as well as youth groups through my church and school. When I am not studying for exams or hitting the field to practice, I love walking my two dogs or playing card games with my two sisters. 

Looking forward beyond high school, I may not know where I am going to school, or what my major is going to be. However, I am confident I am going to be playing soccer!