Personal Statement
For the past two years I have 210 career goal saves. I have placed in the top of goal keepers in all of Washington State. 2021 and 2022 1st and 2nd team all-state player nominations. I’d like to introduce myself to you, and share why I think I would be a great asset to your school and soccer program.
My name is Mackenzie Dahl, and I’m currently a National Honors Society senior from Goldendale, Washington. I have grown up playing several sports competitively all over Washington and Idaho. I have participated in activities that have molded me into a hard worker and team player. I strive hard to always lead by example on every team I am apart of. As a varsity soccer, basketball, and softball player, I have had an immense amount of opportunities to work with incredibly diverse groups of players and coaches alike, which has allowed me to succeed in with whole groups, small groups, and partners, but has also strengthened my skills to collaborate with others and achieve success despite differences of perspective, ability, and opinion. I believe it takes great leadership and social skills to grow a truly successful team. I recognize the times that my team needs me to lead from the back of the pack; encouraging, supporting, and working side by side. I also understand times that my team needs me to lead from the front; directing plays, offering specific guidance or instruction, and at times determining necessary strategy. I believe that I, as a player, need to work even harder at practice than I do in games to ensure I am taking full advantage of every moment to improve myself and create habits of focus. Additionally, I have athletic intellect which drives me to ‘see the game’ and work to proactively approach plays offensively and defensively within the natural flow of the game. I seek and am open to feedback to improve my abilities mentally and physically, and pride myself in being one of the most coachable players on my team.
I work to match my mental will to play, with a strong physical presence on the field. At 5’11” I work to keep my strength and agility both at their peak to ensure I am physically capable of offering the most to the game. I focus a great deal of training on and off the field in endurance, speed, movement, and strength training. Combined, these strengths have proven to benefit my team as I consistently win 50/50 balls without injury, and then quickly distribute the ball safely on the field to the most strategic place whether by long punts, throws or drop kicks. It’s surprising, even to me, that I have come so far in the sport in just my two short years of playing. I have an insatiable drive to keep improving as I fall even more in love with this sport. While I wish I had been active in soccer before high school, it hasn’t taken me long to recognize the sport as my true passion, and I see clearly how playing soccer at the collegiate level aligns with my educational and professional goals to become an athletic trainer. I see the athlete in others, and I want my life’s work to help others develop the athlete in themselves.
