Samantha LaBianca '17 Recruiting Profile

Hello, my name is Samantha LaBianca, but everyone calls me Sam.  I am a 5' 7" midfielder that can play left, center or right from Beachwood, New Jersey.  I am currently a junior in high school and will graduate in June 2017.  I began playing organized soccer at the age of 5 in the Beachwood Soccer Club (BSC).  My team, the Dragonflies, were the first team in the Club's history to win a State Championship (NJYS U13).  I was the captain of this team for the last two years we were together.  I also played on Summer Select/Elite teams during my U10, U11, & U12 seasons.  From U7 to U9, I practiced / trained with the Red Bulls Regional Development School (RDS).  When the BSC Dragonflies disbanded, I made the Match Fit Surge team out of Berkeley, New Jersey.  This team competed in the JAGS (Jersey Area Girls Soccer) league as well as the Region 1 league.  After much consideration, I decided once again to make a change that I thought would be a better fit for me and my family.  In June of 2013, I made the NJCSA-Sting NPL team, out of Jackson, NJ (jersey #15).  This team and has excellent trainers and coaches.  The NJCSA-Sting NPL team won first place at the Bethesda Fall Showcase in November 2013 as well as first place in the Jefferson Cup in March 2014.  I ended my Sting season with six goals and sixteen assists.  Again after much consideration and finding the best team to showcase my skills, I made the PDA (Players Development Academy) Shore Magic team.  We will be competing in the NPL league and I am on the roster for the upcoming CASL Showcase in Raleigh, NC in December as well as the NPL Showcase in Palm Coast, FL in December as well.

Yet to date, I feel one of my greatest accomplishments was to make the Varsity squad (as a freshman, jersey #6) on my Toms River High School South team after completing "hell week."  I was a starter in 21 of the 24 games including the NJSIAA State Finals, and we were undefeated at home.  This was the first time I played on the field with players more than one year older than myself.  It really felt good to have an upper classmate tell me I did well after a set play or a game!   By the end of the season I was involved in all corner kicks, all throw ins, and all other set plays.  As I stated, this team made it to the State Championship and as for me, I was named as one of the top 20 scorers for the NJ Shore Conference (six goals and  six assists) and was named to the Third Team All County in  Ocean County.  For my sophomore season (jersey #15) I was named a player to watch for in my conference and my team won the Class A South Championship for the 2nd year in a row..  I finished the season with three goals and lead the team with thirteen assists.  I am currently a full-time starter/player for the varsity team again this year, and we just clinched the Class A South Championship for the 3rd straight year (first time in school history)

Idealistically, I would like to attend a mid-range to larger size school.  I am interested in schools on or along the east coast, southern region, but would play anywhere that could utilize my abilities.  Financial assistance would be important to me and my family as well.  I would like to attend a school that will use my athletic abilities and afford me the opportunity to gain a top rate education