Chrissy Tchoula came to FC Pride this season to work with coach Eric Descombes. In preparation for college next season, she liked a few things she saw from Descombes so she decided to leave Indiana United Academy in order to get the specific instruction she wanted.  

That kind of critical thinking is very much a part of Tchoula.

“She’s a very bright student,” Descombes said. “She has grown up in a very competitive academic environment. She is a strong competitor but she doesn’t get negatively affected by the games. She is able to be loose and relaxed.”

Our 58th ranked 2010 player on the girls’ side, Tchoula is a strong player on the ball with great vision. She excels both technically and physically in the midfield, bringing the complete package to FC Pride.

In turn, what the club, and more specifically Descombes, can bring to Tchoula is a style she excels in and will help her prepare for the next level. Descombes, who is from Europe, prefers his teams play possession and move the ball. It’s perfect for Tchoula, who is versatile on or off the ball but needs to work on her air game a little.

She is considering academic-heavy schools like Stanford and Harvard among others. Tchoula is a player who has competed on select teams alongside Amy Kauffung, Megan Fuller, Megan Oyster and Catherine Sessions.

She’ll be a player who bears watching during her run-up to college.

Indiana Peers

Tchoula’s Indiana contemporaries include Shae Desmond, a defender heading to Purdue next season. Desmond has great height for college and is great as a marker or on set pieces

Fort Wayne Fever’s Jordan Pawlik is a very lethal central midfielder who can score just as easily as she combines. She comes from a good soccer environment and has experience playing up beyond her years and also with boys. Pawlik has committed to play her college soccer at Louisville.

Sarah Killion is a year younger as a 2011 graduate, but a dynamic player nonetheless who is headed to UCLA. She has exceptional touch and technique.