Player Feature: Emily Olson

Emily Olson poses for her Player Feature. Credit: Tom Arnison, Crystal Hunter, and Tyler Navas

In her first season with the Rooks, Emily Olson — a midfielder — has started in every match and recorded one goal. In this part of the Player Feature series, Olson discusses how she maintains her love for soccer post-graduation from University of Evansville in Evansville, Indiana, and her overall soccer career. 

What’s your earliest memory of playing soccer, and when did you realize you wanted to play it in your adult life?

“Probably just kicking around in the backyard with my brothers. They both play soccer. With my parents and my brothers, just kicking around at the house.”

“I think I never didn’t want to. It was kind of just always the plan. I don’t really know if there’s ever a moment. When I was on ECNL growing up and heavily recruiting it just kind of all worked out, and I was very happy it did.” 

What was the biggest challenge you faced on your journey to becoming a semi-professional soccer player?

“College soccer. It comes [with] ups and downs with injuries and playing time and sticking it out. Just finding the love for the game again when sometimes you don’t want to go play or you kind of get down about it.” 

Who has been the most influential coach or mentor in your career?

“I probably have to say just my brothers [Richard and Alex] again. I think that they pushed me to be the best player, and we all pushed each other for our entire childhood. It was just easy to feed off each other the whole time growing up, and even to this day, we all still play and still push each other.” 

Is there a moment in your career you’re most proud of?

“When my college team made it to our conference championship. It was my fifth year and it was the first time we went to the championship while I was there. That was a really awesome feeling, because it was right after COVID and it was just really great to have a team be so successful after going through all that.”

What does your typical day look like during the season vs. during the offseason?

“I work a traditional 9-5 in hospital administration. I go to work and then I probably go to the gym, and then I play some sort of soccer after that, whether it’s co-ed or Edgewater practice and rest. Then the weekends, sometimes to myself. I love going to the beach. Postseason, pretty much the same thing other than Edgewater practice. Just a lot of soccer too.”

 How do you handle pressure or nerves before big games?

“I think for playing so long, I don’t really get nervous anymore. It’s more like excitement. I just have to remember that I love the game and it’s fun. It’s supposed to be fun. So, I remember that. Like, I’m out here to win, yes, but I’m also out here to have fun and I’m with all my friends, so it makes it less nerve racking.”

If you weren’t playing soccer semi-professionally, what do you think you’d be doing instead?

“I don’t know. Probably just some more co-ed soccer, some more rec leagues, or probably coaching. I do want to get back into coaching eventually, when I hang up the cleats.”

Why did you join ECFC?  

“Some friends on the team, Lauren Hall and Kily Egan. We met at Fire Pitch. They told me to try out. I wasn’t sure I wanted to play competitive anymore because I took like two years off of competitive soccer and they convinced me to play. I’m very happy they did because I’ve been having a blast.”

What has been your favorite memory with the team?

“I think probably playing Milwaukee Torrent in the Amateur Cup. Although we didn’t come out with a result, we fought to the very end and they were a very good team. It showed me our potential and how good we are. And then, obviously, being undefeated in the regular season.” 

What is your favorite pregame song?

“Heads Will Roll by Yeah Yeah Yeahs.” 

Who’s your favorite soccer player?

“Rose Lavelle. She’s great. She’s just so tricky and I love watching her play.” 

What’s your favorite pregame meal?

“If it’s in the morning, it’s oatmeal and a banana. Always has to be a banana, and some sort of peanut butter. If it’s like afternoon, maybe some sort of sandwich and a banana.”

What advice would you give to young players who want to continue playing soccer in their adult life?

“Keep finding the love for the game and everything else will follow. No matter where you play or if you have injuries or ups and downs. Just keep having fun.”