Soccer has been a part of Samantha Ehrenreich’s life for as long as she can remember. Her early introduction was facilitated by one of her Pinecrest Premier coaches, who was taken by her natural agility and insisted that she be signed up for the sport. And she never glanced back.
“I loved the movement, the challenges, and the way the game pushes you to be both physically and mentally strong,’’ Ehrenreich said.
However, her path to success was far from easy. One of the biggest challenges she faced was an ACL tear, a devastating injury that made her take a crucial time in her high school career. Instead of letting it define her, she approached rehab with the same intensity she brought to soccer.
“Recovering from my ACL tear was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do,” Ehrenreich said. “I worked as hard as I possibly could just to be able to play in some games in my last high school season,” Ehrenreich said.
In addition to physical injuries, Samantha has also had to contend with the broader issues of being a woman athlete.
“People have low expectations for girls when it comes to playing soccer post-high school”, Ehrenreich said.
”There’s this assumption that girls will play in high school and then just move on, while men are expected to prepare for college-level competition. I’ve had to prove that we are just as competitive and that we, too, can be scholar-athletes,” Ehrenreich said.
Through years of effort, Samantha committed to Vassar College’s women’s soccer team, a decision based on both academic and athletic merit.
“The women on the Vassar soccer team are true scholar-athletes who appreciate the full college experience,” Ehrenreich said. “I felt comfortable around them from the beginning, and the coach really understands what it means to be a highly competitive female student-athlete,” Ehrenreich said.
Her recruitment process, however, was anything but smooth. In the midst of her college search, Samantha’s ACL injury forced her to cancel critical showcases and ID camps.
“It was really difficult because I had spent months emailing different coaches and attending tournaments to get on their radars,” she recalls. “Then suddenly, I had to cancel everything,” Ehrenreich said.
Despite this loss, though, Vassar’s coaches never gave up on her.
“They had faith that I wasn’t just going to be ready by fall practice but that I would come back even better,” Ehrenreich said.
This support, combined with the school’s blend of rigorous academics and competitive sports, convinced her that Vassar was the place for her fresh start.
As she prepares to compete at the collegiate level, Samantha is eager for the challenges ahead.
“What excites me most is definitely the level of competition,” Ehrenreich said. “Representing my school and playing against other universities is something I’ve always dreamed of,” Ehrenreich said.
When asked what qualities she believes are most important in a leader, Samantha emphasizes leading by example.
“I want to excel both in the classroom and on the field,” Ehrenreich said. “I think it’s important to provide guidance and encouragement to younger players and show them that success is possible through hard work and dedication,” Ehrenreich said.
For young potential female players dreaming of playing the game at its best, Samantha offers some simple advice:
“You need to fully commit yourself and play at the highest level you can,” Ehrenreich said. “Never give up in the face of adversity; use it as fuel to keep going because anything is possible,” Ehrenreich said.
Balancing school and athletics has been another major part of her life.
“Being disciplined and organized helped me balance everything,” Ehrenreich said. “I made sure to get my work done before practice and sacrificed a lot of my free time to stay on top of my studies. I also made a point to communicate with my teachers whenever I needed help,” Ehrenreich said.
As Samantha prepares to embark on her next phase at Vassar College, her story is a powerful reminder of the strength and determination of women athletes. She has faced injuries, disappointments, and even societal expectations but has never used any of these as an excuse to give up.
“One lesson soccer has taught me is that when you get knocked down, you never quit,” Ehrenreich said. “You owe it to yourself and those around you to work even harder when things aren’t going your way,” Ehrenreich said.
