Ashley Downes '21 Recruiting Profile

For as long as I can remember I’ve been playing soccer. While I’ve of course tested out other sports throughout my lifetime including lacrosse, basketball, softball, and track, soccer is the game I’ve always been most passionate about. I’ve grown up in a house with three brothers so playing soccer was definitely a better choice for me to bond with my brothers and my dad, especially, who played collegiately at Quinnipiac. School has always been a huge factor in my life. I try to challenge myself academically taking higher honors classes and joining various clubs. I originally told myself I wanted to go to school academically, but I’ve recently discovered I can’t see myself without playing soccer. I feel I make a unique and a better candidate for a college team due to my ability to well balance my social, academic, and athletic lifestyles. 

I’m proud to have been given the chance growing up to be the captain of my town travel soccer team (Dragons Soccer Club) up until seventh grade. In addition, I maintained the captain role for my CSA NPL team for the first two years I had been playing with the club. I loved the experiences of being with both of these clubs, however, the experiences I enjoyed the most were my high school soccer seasons. I was overwhelmed with joy my freshman year to have made the Varsity team as a starter for Westwood Regional High School. That same year our high school team placed first in our conference, state sectional, and took second place in the state championship. Later on that year I also ran Varsity winter track where I ran primarily long distance races. However, the achievement I am most proud of involves my sophomore year high school soccer season. In the first week of preseason for high school I tore my MCL. Devastated at first, I was pleased when I did not have to get surgery but only take two months off from the game. I was able to return playing late in the season and score four goals and have four assists at center defense. Being able to comeback from an injury like the one that I experienced tearing my MCL, taught me both strength and determination, two characteristics that attribute to who I am and what I hope to bring to a college soccer program.