Emily Purgason '24 Recruiting Profile

Like most of the other athletes eager to play in college, my love for soccer began when I was very young.  In addition to playing soccer, I enjoyed horseback riding, playing basketball, and earning my black belt in karate.  Eventually my passion for those other activities lessened over time and all I wanted to focus on was anything related to soccer.  One of the things I love about the sport is the fact that I can enjoy it with my family, whether it be watching Premier League games, cheering on the USWNT, or shooting so hard on my dad in the backyard last year that he tore his labrum!  I love how the sport brings us together.

One of my favorite soccer players is Kaká.  He stood out to me when I was younger because of his technical ability, how well he reads the game, his smart decision making, and his faith.  Although I don't have his same speed and I'm not a professional soccer player, I feel like he's the type of player that I relate to the most.  My faith is important to me and because of it, I do not take my gifts and talents for granted.  I want to use them to be the best person I can be on and off the soccer field.  

One of the things that makes me stand out amongst my peers is my motivation to improve myself outside of regular training sessions.  I have always been driven by goals set for me or by me.  One of these goals resulted in my all time foot juggle record of 6,250, which I achieved during the pandemic.  This ranks as the 7th highest total in my previous club’s history (FC Frederick).  In addition to being driven, I have become a well rounded player thanks to my club’s intense focus on the technical part of the game and my weekly training sessions with former USYWNT player, Rachel (Nuzzolese) Campanaro.  I learned the tactical part of the game during my 4 years as a member of the Maryland State ODP Team.  

I have this same motivation to succeed and excel in the classroom.  My favorite subject is math and I look forward to studying it in college and hope to learn how I can use it in a future career.  It is my desire to find a college that will allow me to continue to grow in both soccer and academics.