Yana (Shira) Fielkow '20 Recruiting Profile

I am interested in attending an outstanding university and having the opportunity to participate in intercollegiate soccer.  I have trained and played soccer for most of my life, and the chance to continue playing at the collegiate level is of great importance to me. While my academic interests at the collegiate level are still varied, two of my primary interests are in the areas of Russian Language/Culture and Child Development. I want to potentially be a UN interpreter and also make a difference in the lives of children. I want to see each child reach his or her potential and get the opportunities needed to do so. I am looking for a top-level school that will provide me with the education to succeed in this or any other area in which I may ultimately have an interest., while still having the chance to play soccer.  Having lived in both the South and Midwest, I am open to looking at schools in all geographic parts of the United States.

 It is important to know that I was born in Ukraine and adopted when I was nearly six years old.  I know I was given a special opportunity for a better life and I believe this shaped my character and drive to always perform at my best. Given the challenges faced during my childhood, I learned the importance of hard work, dedication, and perseverance in both my academic and athletic pursuits.

I am very proud of my middle and high school academic successes, including a 3.89 Freshman year GPA at one of the best high schools in Illinois. I will be continuing my education, given our family's return to New Orleans, at Ben Franklin High School, a top 50 national academic school and perennial soccer state champion. On the athletic front, I am proud to have been selected to the Eclipse Select Soccer Club and was honored to have made it to the ECNL National Tournament in 2016.  I also served as a GK for Eclipse's Illinois State Cup Championship team in 2017.  This athletic success carried over in 2017 when I was selected as a Freshman as the starting goalkeeper for Evanston Township High School Varsity team, which won a Regional Illinois Championship. During my Freshman year, I started every game, recorded 11 shutouts and was a Freshman Letter Winner. I was able to keep up with a rigorous training schedule and still maintain excellent grades. I continued ECNL club soccer in 2017 and 2018 with the Albion Houston ECNL club. I also played in 2017 and 2018 with the Mandeville Lakers LDPL club, which won the Southern Regional Championships in 2018 and advanced to the US Soccer Nationals.  I was selected as the top goalkeeper at the Southern Regional Championships and named the Golden Gloves winner. 

I believe what sets me apart from other student-athletes is my drive and determination, and the ability to be a great teammate and team contributor. I have often been told that I am very “coachable” and it is always my desire to improve on the technical and mental aspects of being a successful goalkeeper.

My 5'10" height has served me well as a goalkeeper and I am confident that my continued physical and mental growth will help me be a contributing member of an intercollegiate soccer program.  I hope I will have the opportunity to attend a college of my choice, pursue the education for my professional future, while at the same time having the chance to continue to play the sport I love.