Morgan Durham '12 Recruiting Profile

My dream was always to play soccer in the country of Brazil, where the worlds best soccer players are born and breed. Well, this past summer I was given this opportunity to travel, train and play with the best of the game. A group of about 20 girls from all over the US came together and played against U18 Brazilian girls' teams for the Zico Cup Tournament. I was voted as captain by both my teammates and the coach. We received training from brazilian players and US coaches. The training coach for my team in Brazil, Coach KC Crabb, (Head Coach of Texans Soccer Club in Dallas, TX) and managed by Steve Sampson of MLS LA Galaxy. The experience was unforgettable and level of play and the training has made me a much more solid player on the field today. This was truly an experience of a lifetime. Now, I desire to continue this experience by playing at a high level in college and to continue soccer competition beyond college. First things first is the step to college. Let me tell you about myself. I am at a height of 5'8" and am 125 lbs. While soccer is my number one sport, in order to stay in shape year round, I compete in varsity high school basketball and track. On the track, I am known as the distance runner because of my endurance. I run the mile in 6 mins 3 secs and the 400 x 4 relay where I run the third leg in 1 min 5 secs. Besides travel to Brazil, my most important accomplishments are my high school soccer team becoming New Jersey Tri-County Champions back to back in 2009 and 2010. We also were the 2009 South Jersey Group One Champions. My club soccer team is currently ranked 5th in New Jersey. My club coach is a university assistant coach for DII Philadelphia University, Mr. Dan Papadaniil. He trains us to play soccer at the college level and has progressed my level of play to the next level. I have been playing at the U19 club level since I was 14 years old and have consistently been a starter and receive a significant amount of play time. As well in high school, I have always been a varsity start in all of my sports. I have a lot to bring and offer to any soccer team that I commit. I always work my hardest to beat my opponent. When a challenge is placed in front of me, I fight my way through it and never give up. I am a leader both on the field and off. My dream (besides playing soccer in Brazil) ever since I started playing soccer was to never stop playing and to play in college and beyond. I prefer colleges along the east coast. I feel my best fit for a college is a larger school that meets both my soccer and academic desires. I have thought long and hard about this. I currently go to a smaller high school and have an older brother who is a sophmore at Purdue University, 40,000 students. I believe I will benefit from the experience of a larger university but will consider smaller sizes with all academic and sports pieces in place. The major I desire is marketing with a minor in graphic design. I want to go to a college that has a renowned business school as well as much offering in an art school. My academics are very important to me and I strive for the best grades while playing soccer. Who wouldn't want to go to a DI college and play the sport that they love and be a starter as a freshman? But to be realistic I would like at least some playing time as a freshman and good competition that requires one to have to work for good playing time. I have had many conversations with players and parents who have gone off to college at both a DI, DII and DIII level for college. Some of these players loved the team play and the structure of the practices and travel for games. While some of the girls did not like "being owned" by the sport and being told what to do and when to do it for their college life. After thinking about what would please me the most, I have determined that I would really most desire the DI level of soccer play while at the right school with the right major for my academics. I would enjoy and tolerate well the intensity and structure of the soccer training and game schedule while challenged with maintaining my academic grades. I know that high school is not as intense however, I have always been involved in sports and clubs and class president each year while maintaining excellent academic grades and community services. I was inducted in National Honor Society as a Junior (first year of eligibility). So I do feel that I have the mentality to be successful in a DI college and make a difference for the soccer team and coach. I would like to continue playing soccer after college and need the exposure at the college level to make this a reality. Overall, I would like to play at the highest level and play with and against the best girls in the nation and learn from the best coach. I am always up for a challenge and never back down. Please consider me for your college team and I look forward to visiting and meeting the college, coach and team that can meet my expectations and take me to the next level of play in woman's soccer.