Ashleigh Nelin Verbally Commits to Menlo College

Posted On July 31, 2012 by PUSC

“It brings me great pleasure to announce that I have verbally committed to play soccer for Menlo College.  After visiting Menlo’s campus and meeting the girls who play soccer there, I knew it was the right fit for me.  It is everything I could ever ask for in a college and more, and I know that I will be happy there not only athletically but academically as well.  There is honestly no greater feeling than to know that all of the hard work my family, coaches and I have put in is now paying off.

After starting my competitive soccer career from a recreational team back in sixth grade, I have developed immensely as a player due to the hard work and belief of various individuals.   I would like to first thank my very first competitive soccer coach, John Love, for recognizing my potential as a player and introducing me to the competitive soccer world.  You gave me the confidence to continue playing when I was a little fish in a huge sea of kids who had been playing at a much higher level than I had ever known possible and you always expressed your undying belief in my abilities and I can never thank you enough.  Secondly, I would like to thank Jamy McLaughlin for teaching me the importance of fitness to the game of soccer and that coaches love players that put effort in at practice.  I’d like to thank coaches Gene DuChateau and Bart Morefield for bringing me into the Placer United Soccer Club and for always being extremely relatable, positive and friendly.  You both developed my mental and technical game as you transitioned me from the outside of the field to the inside where you expected pound for pound toughness every game.  Finally, I have to thank coach Ron Benjamin.  Your constant pressure to send emails to college coaches and help with the whole college recruiting process has brought me to where I am now.  You are a wonderful resource when it comes to recruiting and an amazing coach.  My game has improved immensely with your constant pressure to work hard and get results and I know you will send me to Menlo ready for college level soccer.

In every year that I have played competitive soccer, my teams have been not only a great support system for me, but a family.  Every one of my teammates are sisters in my eyes and our bond on and off of the field is simply irreplaceable.

Finally, I would like to thank my family for always being so selfless and helping push me on in my pursuit of a college soccer career.  You all have given up so much for me to play soccer, whether it is taking time off of work to watch me play in a tournament and drive me everywhere, spending a Thanksgiving in a hotel room because I am playing in Surf Cup, doing a week’s worth of make-up school work because you were busy being a cheerleader on the sidelines of your sisters games over the weekend, or just being there to tell me everything will be all right when I had a bad game, every little thing has meant the world to me.  You have all put me first at some point in time when it came to soccer and sacrificed something for me to do what makes me happiest, so I want to thank you.  I love you so much for always believing in me and helping me even when it was not always convenient.  You are the reason I am here today, so thank you!

Let’s go Oaks!”

—Ashleigh Nelin