Makayla Mcgilvrey '22 Recruiting Profile

I was introduced to soccer at age 9 after relocating to Washington due to my dad’s military orders. It was a difficult time of transition, but with encouragement and support, I found the bravery to try out for a soccer team. My passion for soccer was instant. All of my previous activities did not compare. Soon I had tunnel vision, focusing all my time and energy on soccer. Soccer was a great fit for my personality from the start as I have always been very competitive. When I was born, I had an extensive stay in the NICU and that fighter in me has never left and this perseverance carries out to the soccer field! While I’m typically the smallest on my team, I’ve learned how to capitalize on my size. I am fast, reliable, versatile, and thoughtful on the field. I have learned that it is not how big you are, but how big you play! Off the field, I constantly challenge myself with honors and advanced classes and I am proud recipient of multiple All-Academic Awards.

I am a true believer that hard work pays off and one example of this is when I made the high school soccer varsity team as a freshman. Although I was intimidated at first with the senior heavy roster, I jumped in full force and made an impact right from the start. I scored the first goal of the season off a header. As the season carried on, my contribution to the score was very visible including an important lone goal against a tough rival that led our team to an undefeated season. On a more personal level, I also feel that this was one of my biggest years of growth as I had to adapt quickly to a season of new coaches, perspectives, tactics, positioning, and much older/bigger teammates. With this challenge I grew even more respect and patience for the game, and this ultimately gave me the confidence to achieve more and the determination to work hard for that goal. Since then, I have supplemented my soccer addiction with an additional travel academy (Surf Academy) for elite-premiere athletes, accepted the position of team captain for my premier club team, became the high school boys soccer manager, and I volunteered to teach younger children soccer at free community clinics. I also participate in HS Track & Field to keep in shape and better my game and with this, I lettered as a freshman and broke school records! All these experiences have paved the way for me to seek out playing at the collegiate level and to concentrate my efforts in a degree that would allow me to continue my passion for soccer.

The desire to challenge myself makes me a great asset, and the drive to work hard in order to achieve those goals keeps me focused and prepared. I am looking forward to higher athletic and academic challenges!