Sara Pecorelli '21 Recruiting Profile

My name is Sara Nicole Pecorelli and I am a junior at Ramapo High School. Coming from a big Italian family, watching world cup games and attending MLS games in the NY metropolitan area, was a favorite pastime and since I put on my first pair of cleats, I haven't stopped.  I volunteered for the goalkeeper position in the second grade and I realized I loved the game from that point of view.  It was my kind of game, and with much training over the years, I began honing my skills, along with gaining respect for my teammates, coaches, as well as my parents.  They have all helped me become the player I am and the composed and respectful person I am today.  

One of the challenges I have encountered was when I entered my freshman year of high school and I was chosen for the girls varsity soccer team. While I felt very lucky and honored to have made it on the team, I wasn't prepared for the politics involved in working with a new team, especially coming from a club team that had been together for several years.  I decided that whatever came my way, I would continue to do what I did best, which was to work hard and encourage my team, whether I was on the field or not. It is through my high school team that I learned what the true meaning of a team is, working together in one harmonious direction. This past season, those team efforts have culminated to winning the triple crown, the League, County and State Sectional Titles.  It has been the best year yet, not because we won, but for the amount of encouragement we all gave each other going into each game, we didn't want the season to end and because of soccer, I have made the best of friends.  It was a feeling I hope to recreate in my last year next year, and hopefully as a college student-athlete.  

Being a high school student-athlete has prepared me in so many ways for my college career. My GPA has allowed me to be consistently recognized on the Superintendent’s list every semester since freshman year.  I am very driven, and my work ethic, determination, leadership ability, and time management skills that I honed all these years will further position me to be a successful student-athlete.  As part of a college soccer team, I will conduct myself with honor and respect, knowing that how I carry myself, both on and off the field, reflects my team, my coaches, and the university or college I will attend.    

I envision my college years to be those of personal growth both academically and socially where my goal is to explore my interests in biology that will position me to apply for dental school and further my dream of becoming a pediatric orthodontist. I am hoping to do this while positively impacting a successful college soccer team.