Etienne Oliver '17 Recruiting Profile

I have played soccer ever since I could remember; I grew up in cleats and shin guards. I am a student of the game, always willing to learn, work, and improve. Constantly being taught the correct mechanics of the game, I know the correct fundamentals and they come naturally to me, since how to shoot the ball correctly is all I have ever known. Even more important I have learned that I have the ability to learn and continue to improve as a player and a teammate. I have developed quite a love for drills, having done the same ones hundreds of times over the years, creating discipline that allows me to act instinctively whenever I touch a soccer ball. On the field, there is an instant connection between my brain and my feet. My instincts say shoot, I shoot, regardless of which foot the ball comes off of. I am dominantly left footed, but there is no thought or hesitancy while shooting, trapping, passing, or dribbling with my right foot. “I've rarely seen a young player with such a composed first touch and the ability to finish with both feet from close range.” said my high school coach during my freshman year. He added, “To go from injured and hardly playing to second leading scorer as a freshman is very impressive.”

Overall I am balanced between academics and sport, and plan on continuing this during my college career. I wish to play college soccer and plan on taking creative writing or journalism classes, with one of these being a possible  major. I am a student, in and outside the classroom, and have a curiosity and willingness to learn.

As a teammate, I lead by example and am focused on the soccer but see no harm in having some fun with my teammates. My coach when assessing my sophomore year said, “Etienne came into pre-season in great shape and immediately showed the entire coaching staff she was not only ready to start but to lead the front line...I believe Etienne can lead the program in scoring each of the next two seasons with her ability to finish and work rate.” I am a team player and concerned with our success as a whole, and play to achieve a win for the team, personal stats are secondary and never my focus.

On the pitch, my weapons are my speed, ability to dribble, and to do so at a speed that defenders rarely match, ability to score with either foot, and an innate feel for the goal. My vision is one of my strengths and I have an uncanny feel for where my teammates are and where they will be next.  I am a natural goal scorer and have been since I first played the beautiful game. A key to my success and love of the game are my teammates. They challenge me to improve, not only to benefit myself, but also them and the team as a whole.