Ashlyn Payette '28 Recruiting Profile

In the Spring of 2018, I started my journey as a soccer player. As a young 2^nd grader, I was an energetic kid that loved to run, laugh and jump. Most kids who play sports and plan to play in college also have the “I’m going to go pro, be on TV”. But that’s not my mindset. I want to play in college simply to continue to feed my passion for the game I’ve come to love so much.  I love being part of a team and growing with my teammates through wins and losses, successes and failures. Playing in college would be a once in a lifetime experience for me to continue my excitement through the early start of my adult life.  There’s no other feeling like having a ball at my feet. 

For a long time I was a duel-sport athlete and just recently, in Spring 2024, I decided to stop being a competitive gymnast (level 8) and focus entirely on soccer. Being a gymnast improved my strength and flexibility and worked muscles I’m sure most people aren’t even aware they have. Gymnastics also gave me my mental toughness as the only person accountable for your own mistakes is you.  

As a soccer player, I’ve played town travel, Connecticut Football Club (CFC), ECRL, Olympic Development Program (ODP) and Players First (P1).  As part of the ODP program, I was invited to attend the Regional ID Camp this past season. The experience in different clubs and camps has been important to see and hear other coaches’ ideas and perspectives on me as a player. I’m a very coachable athlete and actively seek feedback and work to incorporate their ideas, advice, and guidance.  As a player, not just soccer but an overall athletic student, one of my greatest strengths is my speed and agility. I’ve reached an 18 mph top speed and run a 40m in 5.37 seconds, so I’m quick to reach that speed with a high acceleration rate. I’ve unofficially run a mile under 6 minutes.  I’m also vocal on the field and I choose to be a leader, not only for my teammates’ sake to give my perspective but to boost the overall energy of the game for me and my team. Bad games are hard and people can shut down, but hearing that one person with confidence-boosting statements, or yelling encouragement even from the sideline, that’s who I want to be. I played goalie in my early years of soccer and became a field player in 7^th grade. That gave me a unique perspective to see the field and read the game from both and offensive and defensive perspective.  When I’m not playing, I balance my time with strength training, doing 1:1 lessons, and running.

As mentioned above, most people might have the “I want to go pro, be on TV” but that’s not my mindset. I want to be a college player, but not a professional player. I do and always will put my school and education first. I dream of going to medical school to become a doctor. That’s all I have wanted to be since I was in 6^th grade. I take my education and academics seriously. In 3^rd grade, I was placed in an accelerated math class and took 4^th grade math.  Every year since then, I’ve been 1-2 years ahead of my actual grade, and I’m going into high school taking Algebra 2 with sophomores and juniors as a freshman. I’m also taking all honors classes and 1 AP class. I will push myself to study and learn, because to me, medical school is my long term dream. 

I want a college that can give me an education I can challenge myself with, a college that gives me a chance to be the best student, athlete, and soccer player possible. I’m open to all options and I just want somewhere that fits me and that can give me the opportunities I seek.