It’s never a good sign to be called into the principal’s office; so when Erin Ahmed was beckoned last fall by her U17 Dallas Solar coaches Fleur Benatar and Nick Stavrou she knew the prospects couldn’t be good.

Ahmed had been struggling to find her place on the team. Her playing time was dwindling and her outlook had begun to sour.

“She was a player who had to rethink if she wanted to play,” Benatar said. “We knew she was a good player, but sitting on the bench makes you really decide how much you’re committed. She had parts of her career where she played a lot and parts where she didn’t. She wasn’t getting everything out of her ability.”

Added Ahmed:

“We sat down and went over my goals, and what I wanted out of soccer. I knew that I needed to change my attitude because I was really in a rut. I knew that I was a good player, but I wasn’t playing to my potential. I just couldn’t seem to find it.”

Whatever “it” was has now been found.

 Ahmed is a rejuvenated player this season. She has found an important niche within a strong Solar club that inlcludes standout players Taylor Smith, Loudell Crumpler, Madeline Gangi, Matthew Dunn and Rocco Bagley.

“I can’t even tell you; it’s been so much more fun this year,” she said. “If I had spent my last two years (with the Solar) like this one it would’ve been such a more enjoyable experience.”

The talent has always been there for Ahmed. She’s a technically sound player with good size and a gift for keeping the ball. What she doesn’t have in speed she makes up for with craftiness.

The first step in maximizing Ahmed’s ability was putting her up top where her ball control could be utilized alongside another speedy forward.

“Now other players can rely on her decision making and know where the ball is going to be,” Benatar said. “She has always had the ability to read the game well. She isn’t the fastest player, but she’ll make a move that’ll surprise you. She’s deceptive that way.”

On Ahmed’s end of things, she altered her approach to practice. A fun-loving and gregarious person, Ahmed could often get caught up in the social aspect of training. But once she decided to treat practice as work she was able to transition her performances into games. She now tackles sessions with the same intensity that she does her schoolwork at Ursuline Academy, where she holds a 4.16 GPA in honors classes.

On her high school team, Ahmed recently helped Ursuline win its 19th consecutive state title.

For Ahmed, the past seven or so months haven’t just been a success within soccer, but an important life lesson.

“I’ve learned that work ethic – what you do when no one is watching, transfers over,” Ahmed said. “As an athlete you develop a sense of time management, and what you need to get done to succeed. I’m learning that now more than ever. The best moment of this year won’t be a goal scored or a game we won, it’s the realization that I’ve succeeded and done what all my coaches wanted."

“I’ve reached the peak of my ability.”