Emily Bengtson '22 Recruiting Profile

    I guess you could say I had a rough start in life. Around 7 and 8-years-old, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and underwent 2 surgeries related to cancer in my thyroid gland. I now live cancer-free and manage my diabetes. I have never let my medical history weigh me down in athletics or academics. Not only has my medical history taught me to enjoy life and do what I love, but it has as made me much tougher and able to stand out from others.   

    My journey on the soccer field hasn't always been between the posts. The summer between my freshman and sophomore year, I got to thinking and I knew my high school would be graduating two senior goalies and the varsity spot would be there for the taking.  So, over the course of the following months, I trained and trained and trained to develop as a goalie.  I eventually made the switch to a team with a coach who was a goalie himself. My coach has helped me improve dramatically. He helped me earn the spot as the varsity goalie on my high school team and play on Arizona's ODP team in December of 2019.