Danielle
Danielle trains for a second successful season at Harvard
Danielle Etzel graduated from Choate in 2015. She played center midfield and goalkeeper on the Choate Girls’ Varsity Soccer team for four years and is now a goalkeeper for Harvard Crimson women’s soccer.
Joseph Coyne ’19: How long have you been playing soccer for?
Danielle Etzel ’15: I probably began [playing] around when I was 4 to 6 years old. They start you off really young in local rec leagues and whatnot. From rec, I moved to town travel teams, then middle school and high school teams then club soccer. I’ve been playing goalie since I was around 12 — in club, we always switched around between field and goal. I became a full-time goalie a couple years later, as the level of play got higher.
JC: When did you know you wanted to play soccer in college?
DE: I don’t think there was a particular moment. I feel like I always knew I wanted to continue playing, provided that the game would still be fun for me, and that I’d still be able to do well academically. In high school, I always looked up to the upperclassmen, especially the ones that were going on to play Division I soccer. For me, it seemed like a no-brainer to continue playing the game I love.
JC: How was the transition from soccer at Choate to soccer at the collegiate level? How different was the level of play? What was the hardest part of this transition?
DE: The level of play was definitely raised. The speed of play and the physicality required at this level are more demanding than expected in high school, although the finesse and technicality that you see in club games are replaced by simplicity and teamwork in college. I think the hardest part of the transition was the time commitment I now have for soccer. Films, lifting, travelling, team meals, events, etc. — it all adds up during the week, especially during the season.
JC: What are your hopes for this season?
DE: The team’s goal this year is to win our conference, but we take the season one game at a time. Personally, I want to keep improving as a goalkeeper, and continue to grow as a player and leader.
JC: How was the transition from Choate to Harvard overall?
DE: My transition to Harvard was much easier than that of non-boarding school students, since I already have a sense of what living away from home is like. Things like managing time, organizing, and seeking out help when I need it are all things I bring from Choate without even knowing it. However, there is a new level of maturity that comes with the responsibility of having your own place and this new sense of independence.
JC: How did your athletic transition to college differ from what you expected it to be like?
DE: Honestly, I tried to not go into Harvard with expectations. I tried to just take everything in and make the most of it.
JC: What have been your most exciting experiences as a soccer player, at Harvard and elsewhere?
DE: On October 1, Harvard beat Yale in our night game 2-1! It was an exhilarating game. That was a pretty rainy, cold night, and we were behind for most of the game, but we ended up tying the game with fifteen minutes left and then scoring the winner about five minutes later! That was definitely the coolest game I’ve been a part of here. In terms of outside of Harvard, my favorite moments are from playing with Region 1 ODP [Olympic Development Program], since I was fortunate enough to have a great team for each trip. The opportunities to learn from top-level coaches, as well as travel internationally, have been amazing experiences.
JC: What is one piece of advice you have for people preparing to make the jump from Choate to college?
DE: I would say to make the most of the opportunities at your college! While soccer does take up a lot of time, I have found that there are so many amazing extracurricular opportunities to take advantage of. Whether it is intramural sports, research, study abroad, or clubs, there is so much to explore. You meet so many amazing professors and students, and it’s a great way to get to know other people with similar interests. Also, you learn so many things outside of academics and develop a great support and friend network!
Christine
Christine makes five saves against Harvard in one of her first matches.
Among the select graduates from Choate who attend Ivy League schools, there are those who now thrive on prestigious Division I Ivy sports teams. One of those people is Christine Etzel, who graduated from Choate in 2015. After being goalkeeper for Choate’s highly successful Girls’ Varsity Soccer team, Etzel moved on to play at Brown University. During her first season there, she was awarded Ivy League Rookie of the Week three times. In addition to that, she is currently ranked second in the league for total saves.
Etzel remarked that preparing for the season entailed “doing a lot more fitness training than I did in high school.” Her days were comprised of “consistently doing goalkeeper training and perfecting anything that I felt was weak.” Her hard work definitely paid off when preseason came around. Etzel was the starting goalie for every preseason game in her freshman year, although it was no easy feat. She explained, “The only other goalkeeper was a year older than me and we were competing for the starting spot during preseason. My coach eventually told me that I would be the starter.” Etzel mentioned that her transition onto Brown’s soccer team went smoothly. “The team was super welcoming,” she said, adding, “The girls supported all of the freshmen.”
Not only did Fitzel have to get comfortable around new teammates, she also had to get accustomed to the rigor of college soccer. In regards to the level of play, she said, “I was kind of surprised. There’s definitely a transition regarding the speed of play. The games are much faster than high school soccer.” As for the style of play, Etzel has adjusted well to Brown’s strategies. “My freshman year, we were hitting the ball more often, but this year we’re more about possession. The team is definitely trying to keep the ball more and play out of the back.” One could certainly say she has learned the reigns of Brown soccer, with a save percentage of 83.3% and 75 total saves under her belt.
Along with the demands of her D1 team, Etzel had to juggle all other aspects of transitioning into college. She commented, “I was a four-year boarding student at Choate, so I was already pretty comfortable being away from home. College is very similar.” She also mentioned what it is like balancing her time at college: “In the offseason, there is definitely time to get involved in other stuff. For example, my team volunteers at local school. It’s kind of a struggle because there’s so much work, but you can always find time.”
When asked if she had any advice for incoming students or student athletes, Etzel said, “Take everything in; my freshman year just flew by. Step back and enjoy every moment.” She added, “College is something you’ll remember for the rest of your life. Just make sure you’re having fun.”
With all the success that Etzel has had, one could assume that her positive outlook on college life and work expectations has benefitted her. Stay tuned during her next two years at Brown University because Etzel is one to watch.
