Nicholas Berndt '17 Recruiting Profile

          I first began playing soccer about 14 years ago when I was 4. Up until now, I had always done a second sport that kept on changing throughout the years such as hockey, ice skating, baseball, gymnastics, and cross country. I had wanted to be a goal keeper since I was 6, but all my coaches told me I was too fast to play keeper and made me play forward instead, until I filled in the spot in a tournament and took first place when I was 10. I then went on to play for 4 years in the net, growing bored of the position and aching to play on the field, which is what I did when I moved to Utah my freshman year. At this time, I only qualified for D2 teams and had to settle for JV full back in high school my freshman and sophomore year. My club coach asked that I play goalie in a tournament for a P2 team and I grudgingly accepted. With only a week of preparation, we took second place in the tournament and I knew that I was meant to play goal keeper. 

          Over the years of playing soccer, I have learned that to benefit the team as a whole, you have to make sacrifices and put in the work needed to be the best you can be. The motto I follow now is "Trade your day for something you can keep forever.", and I think about this for athletic performance as well as academic success. I love working with a team to accomplish goals and even possess the potential to be a leader. I think that I would be a great addition to a college team with the love and work ethic I have for the sport.