Cara Costanzo '23 Recruiting Profile

Growing up, I was always a physically active kid who had developed a real love for sports. At the age of 5, my parents introduced me to soccer, and I fell in love right away. I received a scholarship offer for a soccer camp at the age of 9. As time went by, I gained strength and competitiveness. I was selected as captain at the age of 11, and my desire to play only intensified with each passing year. I was able to gain leadership skills, demonstrate patience, and guide my team to victory in Montreal in 2018. Soccer became part of me and helped me through tough times. Many people mistakenly believe that soccer is only a sport, but in actuality, it's a second family. We succeeded because of the chemistry we built over the years. Finally, we all parted ways and I started playing for another club from 2015 to 2019; during my rookie year, I was hurt during a scrimmage. The same night I went to the hospital where they told me I had a dislocated patella. I had to quit the team and received weekly physical therapy for the next 9 months before getting an MRI, which revealed that I had a torn ACL, a damaged meniscus, as well as a dislocated patella. My urgent need for surgery- which turned out to be in December 2021- was announced. The procedure went smoothly, however, I was informed that I would need crutches for nine weeks. I was prohibited from participating in sports for a year and my main focus was rehabilitation and gaining physical strength back. This adventure had a significant impact on my mental and physical well-being. I carried myself with confidence and was one of the best players on the field before it was abruptly taken away from me. Being an athlete my entire life to not even being able to walk was demoralized and left me with no motivation. Soccer was my escape and relieved me at my highs and lows. After the surgery, I lost a significant amount of weight and muscle due to lack of exercise and appetite and experienced a depressive phase where I had a pessimistic outlook and would tell myself aloud that I would never be able to play again. But thanks to the love and encouragement of my family and friends, I was inspired and resolved to put in the necessary effort to ensure that this was not the end of my journey. I started using the gym and gaining my strength back. After months of hard work, my surgeon announced the news that I could resume athletics. I joined a soccer team in November 2022, and as a result, I was able to regain my confidence on the field. Every practice made me feel stronger than ever, and I knew that all the suffering and struggle I had experienced over the previous two years would finally come to an end and I could go back to doing what I love the most. My accident taught me the importance of perseverance, determination, and never giving up on your dreams. I learned that you can achieve everything you set your mind to. My goal from this point on out is to simply play soccer and thrive for as long as I can. That being said I am seeking to join a women's soccer team for a university and to keep working hard and showing a good example to others. I haven't had any opportunities to be seen by any varsity coach due to my absence of injury but I am hoping with all my determination and hard work, it will pay off at the upcoming showcases. I wouldn't say there's something that makes me different from others, but I have always been passionate about this sport and I will do whatever it takes to continue playing. Speed is something that came naturally to me which lead to my right winger position. I did one season of track and field with the Ottawa Lions to enhance that gift and perform better on the field. Personally, I am a good candidate for a soccer team because I bring a lot to the table such as a positive attitude and a determined set goal. There will always be room for growth development and skills to work on regardless of how good a player is. I am ready for any obstacle coming my way and I will be determined and prepared to learn new things along the way. In terms of my education, Marketing has been my interest for a while. Pursuing my soccer career as well as building my future to become a marketing agent and sales publicist or Communications Coordinator for a company.