Elinor Priest always dreamed of playing at her native Portland. And while she achieved that lifelong goal it wasn’t without its challenges. She played in nine games during her eventful first year and is the better for it. Ready to enter her sophomore season in the fall, Priest looks back on the year that was with some sound advice for all you aspiring college players out there.

Start on the recruiting process early

I was actually fortunate, because I started my process late but a couple of the girls on my club team (at FC Portland) had already committed to Portland. I emailed a lot of coaches and Portland coach Garrett Smith came to one of the tournaments I was playing. I made sure he knew who I was and he had already been out to a few of our practices.

Fitness, fitness, fitness

Everyone always talks about college level fitness and how it will be like nothing you’ve done but you never really know until you go through it. I worked out on my own somewhat but I didn’t do everything I could have and it showed. When I got to Portland the workouts weren’t like anything I had done in the past. In retrospect, it’s better to underestimate your fitness level than overestimate it.”

Talk to current players

For me, the older girls were a great resource. They had gone through everything that I was facing and could help me prepare on and off the field.

Remember what got you there

I can remember playing my first game and having one of the girls yell out to me, ‘Elinor, just relax.’ For me that was the hardest thing – to just play. It’s such a huge adrenaline rush but you just have to remember what you’ve been doing your whole life.

Get your rest and monitor your diet

It’s hard sometimes, but with your new class schedule and trainings, it’s important to go to bed early – even when all of your friends are hanging out.

Also, you have to pay attention to your change in diet. With campus meals sometimes it’s hard to get all the iron and things you need. Early on this past year I became anemic because I wasn’t getting enough red meat and that impacted my soccer, so it’s really important.

Aim high

Always reach as high as you can and don’t doubt yourself, whether you’re trying to be recruited or you you’ve already made a team. We have a weight coach and he always tells us: if you’re trying to maintain then you’re losing ground; you have to always be striving for something further.