Caroline Aertker '21 Recruiting Profile

My name is Caroline Aertker, and I currently am a junior (Class of 2021) at Mandeville High School in Mandeville, LA. I finished my high school season on February 28, 2020. My high school team, the Mandeville High Skippers, advanced all the way to the Div. I state championship game. We lost a heartbreaker, 2-3, in overtime on a penalty kick with essentially no time left on the clock. Although the loss was very disappointing, I am proud of how hard my team fought in defeat. I play the “10” for Mandeville High, and scored the opening goal (left- footed volley) and assisted the other goal during the Div. I State Championship game. I also scored 2 goals and had an assist in Mandeville High’s victory in the State Quarterfinal game. Overall, I scored 23 goals and had 21 assists during my junior year from my central midfield position.

I was named to the United Soccer Coaches' High School All-America team for the 2019-20 season.  I was also recently voted as Louisiana’s Offensive MVP for the past 2019-2020 high school season for Division I, which is the highest classification in Louisiana high school soccer. I was also just named for the second year in a row to both the United Soccer Coaches’ All-Region High School Team and the LHSSCA All-State First Team for Division I. In addition, I was named to the 2019-2020 Division I, District V First Team All-District and The St. Tammany Farmer’s 2019-2020All-St. Tammany Team.

Last year (my sophomore year), in addition to being named to the 2018-2019 United Soccer Coaches’ All-Region High School Team, I was selected to the LHSSCA All-State - First Team (Div. I), the NOLA.com All-Metro Team (New Orleans) & The Advocate All-Metro Team (New Orleans), and was awarded the 2018-19 Mandeville High School Coach’s Award.

Although I enjoy the fun and atmosphere of high school soccer, my heart belongs to my club team ... the FC Tammany Tigers 02/03. I enjoy the technical and tactical requirements of high-end club soccer, as well its accelerated pace. My club team is the 4-time defending Louisiana State Cup Champion, the 3-time defending USYS Mid South Conference/Southern Regional Premier League champion, and current 2-time USYS National League participant. We competed at National League - North Carolina in December 2019, where we won 1 game, tied 2 games (against the Maryland and Michigan state champs - both of which finished in the top 8 in country last season), and lost a game. We have now played 12 National League games, and have won or tied 75% of our National League matches. Unfortunately, the remainder of our National League schedule for the 2019-2020 season was canceled due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

My club team, FC Tammany Tigers, has competed against elite teams across the country. For example, we went undefeated at the Disney Soccer Showcase in Orlando, FL, and were a Finalist and Semi-Finalist at the Jefferson Cup in Richmond, Virginia.

I play central midfield for both club and high school soccer. I generally play the “6” “8” or “10” for my club team, and I play the “10” for my high school team. I absolutely love to create and combine with my teammates from my midfield positions. I also love, when appropriate, to shoot on goal from distance. Playmaking and scoring aside, I also enjoy playing defense. Being a central midfielder allows me to serve as a genuine “two-way” player ... giving me the opportunity to contribute both offensively and defensively to my team’s effort.

Like so many other players, the corona virus pandemic has really upset my college recruiting campaign. All of the showcase tournaments and national/regional-level games were canceled, along with so many college ID camps. I feel like time is running out to make a decision, and I have not even had the opportunity to meet with you and your staff. The timing is terrible! Ugh.

I have played an extensive amount of high-level club soccer in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Arkansas, Texas, Florida, and the Carolinas.

I know that I have to overcome the prejudice against Louisiana soccer players due to the absence of any DA or ECNL platform within a six-hour drive. Even though my club team has competed admirably against ECNL/DA teams & players for many years during national tournaments, we are seemingly viewed as second-tier players. Nonetheless, I am confident that I can compete at the collegiate level. I have worked all my life to play soccer at the highest level possible. I continue to train 4-5 days a week during the coronoa-virus suspension of play, determined as ever to make my senior year as successful as possible, and to ensure I am ready to succeed at the college level