Freshman Erin Shulman dreamt of playing college soccer for as long as she can remember. She fulfilled this dream when she chose to play for the Southeast Missouri State University women's soccer team.
Shulman, a forward from Bloomington, Ill., decided to come to Southeast after looking at other schools. Shulman chose Southeast over Central Michigan, Eastern Illinois, Valparaiso and DePaul.
"I decided I wanted to go somewhere that I'd be able to help the team and actually get to have some playing time," Shulman said. "I came here and just loved it because it was a small campus. I liked the atmosphere and the coaches and the team."
During the recruiting process Southeast felt that it had found a player that would help the program to improve. The coaching staff at Southeast knew that Shulman was a solid athlete, but they looked at other aspects, too.
"We focus on recruiting student-athletes that are positive life forces, people who view the cup as half full, not half empty," Southeast coach Heather Nelson said. "Once we had an opportunity to meet Erin and her family we were confident that she was a perfect fit for our program."
Shulman has shown that she belongs in the Southeast soccer program from the moment she stepped on the field. Shulman has started in the all nine games this season and helped the team to a 6-2-1 record.
"Erin is off to an excellent start," Nelson said. "We have played a number of very good non-conference teams in which Erin has faced quality defenders and has scored some great goals."
Shulman leads the team with eight goals.
"Her speed and ability to take on players has really helped us out offensively," senior captain Nikki Edwards said. "She's very skilled and she's really been what we've been missing the last couple years."
While her goal scoring has been impressive, Shulman gives credit to her teammates. She has gotten assists from senior captain Vanessa Hart and freshman Torey Byrd.
"It's a good feeling, but a goal has to start with the defense and the whole team is responsible for a goal," Shulman said.
Shulman has been accepted by her teammates because of skills and her personality.
"Erin's got a great work ethic on and off the field," Edwards said. "She is a great person. She works hard in practice and that's always nice to have around the team."
Shulman's hard work has helped her so far this year and she feels she's done a good job of balancing her schoolwork and soccer. She also wants to improve at anything she can to help her team.
"Erin has an excellent work ethic, is smart, coachable and resilient," Nelson said. "[She] also has a fun-loving personality and a sharp sense of humor."
The support of Shulman's family has shaped her into the person and athlete that she is today. She said her parents have always been supportive of her soccer career and they rarely miss a game.
"They love that I'm playing, and they'd be sad if I quit ever," Shulman said.
While she knew that playing in college was something she definitely wanted to do, she still has not decided what her plans are after she graduates college and is undecided on a major.
