Ashburn, Va. — Stone Bridge High School center midfielder Alyssa White has made a commitment to Division I James Madison University to further her athletic and academic career starting in the 2019-2020 school year.
The 5-foot-5 soccer star felt that JMU was the perfect place for her to commit.
“The college has an amazing reputation academically, a beautiful campus and is the perfect mid-size campus I was looking for in a college environment,” White said. “Plus, the campus is not too far from home in Ashburn, and my parents, family and friends don’t have to travel too far to come to my home games.”
[adrotate banner=”29″]White – who plays club soccer for Loudoun 01G ECNL – has been playing the sport since her early years and has stayed motivated to get better throughout her entire life.
“I started playing soccer when I was four-years-old. I played other sports as well, but I really just wanted to be on the field kicking the ball and running!” White said. “Soccer for me is a way to keep challenging myself. I’m extremely competitive on the field, and I’m constantly challenging myself to improve.”
Committing to a school is one of the most relieving things to happen to someone.
“Committing to play soccer in college was one of my major life goals,” White said. “Some people get committed to a college and think they can coast through the rest of their remaining high school time. But that’s when your motivation, fitness and level of play needs to ramp up! So for me, the grind has started. I want to enter JMU preseason being in the best shape I’ve ever been in.”
Stone Bridge might have been the best high school for Alyssa to attend as her experience was one she’ll never forget. The Bulldogs’ program has helped her prepare for her upcoming journey with the Dukes.
“Playing soccer for Stone Bridge is a major highlight in my life, and I’m so proud to wear Bulldog blue and represent Stone Bridge,” White said. “As a team, we are incredibly supportive to one another. I was honored to be elected captain several times throughout the season, allowing me to personally grow as a leader.”
White is optimistic about her upcoming season at JMU and hopes her developing leadership skills will mesh well with the coaches’ outlook.
“I believe I will bring strong strategic skills, such as field vision and awareness, and solid ball control to the team,” White said. “The coaches have said that they would like to take the team in a new direction, playing a more tactical game.”
