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Interview with Nico Hillison, Colby-bound Men's College Soccer Player

5/31/2019

 
When did you first begin playing soccer and when did you know it was something you would want to do in college?
I have been playing Soccer since I was in first grade. Because I lived in Barcelona, Spain, every little kid has a passion to play soccer and become great at the sport. Every lunch break I would play with friends and have fun together. Playing soccer in college was something I wanted to do when I began playing competitive soccer in San Francisco. My mentality was always: ‘What’s next?’. I have had the goal to play college soccer since I was in 7th grade.

How has the San Francisco Elite Academy shaped you into the player and student athlete you are today?
San Francisco Elite Academy has shaped me into the person I wanted to become has helped me throughout my time here playing soccer in San Francisco. It has taught me to be disciplined, committed, respectful, and eager to learn more. SFEA has helped me have an open mentality off and on the pitch. I have learned that if I wanted to become a college athlete, I would have to set my priorities straight. School and soccer have been and are my number one priorities.

Choosing a college is daunting and finding one to also play soccer can make it even more so. Please share a few thoughts on your college-selection/recruiting process and how you came to the conclusion your school was right for you?

I wanted a school that would really help me grow as an individual and as an athlete. Though there are a lot of colleges with a soccer program, there are less who have a very rigorous academic curriculum as well. I wanted to be able to challenge myself both academically and athletically in the learning environment that was right for me. Being able to visit and have contact with students was very important to me. Colby College made me feel as if I was at home.

When did you begin working on your college recruiting and what did you do first?
I started my college recruiting process at the beginning/middle of my Junior year of High School. The first thing I did was create a highlight tape of the past season. I wanted to show coaches who I was before I personally met them. I began sending personalized emails with the highlight tape to coaches that were attending college showcases that I was interested in as well as coaches who were attending College ID Camps. I wanted them to informally know who I was before they saw me on the field and have some sense of familiarity with me.

What key words of advice would you give fellow SFEA players who are just beginning the college recruiting (or finding a college soccer play opportunity) process?

Something that helped me a lot was to really be clear with what I wanted for my future. You always want to ask yourself ‘what is next?’. There comes a lot of responsibility and hard work by committing to play college soccer as well as at any soccer club. The dedication has to come from one's own interest, not others pushing to do what they would like you to do. It has to be one’s passion.

Please share what you are most excited about when it comes to attending your college--from student life to academics/areas of study as well as college play?
I am excited to have a fresh start and be able to pursue both my academic and athletic passion. I am aware of the responsibility I have now and I cannot wait to set on the soccer field with my new soccer team. I also can’t wait to meet new people from all over the country. I want to major in computer science as well as have a double minor, one in math and another in philosophy. I am dedicated and want to pursue this passion. Being able to do all of this while playing soccer is a blessing.

Is there anyone you would like to specifically thank for helping you on your journey from youth player to elite prospect to college-level soccer?

I would like to thank a lot of people but specifically my parents, who have driven me everywhere for practices and games so I wouldn’t be late and stay committed to the team. I would like to thank Po Bronson who saw the love for the game that I had and became my mentor off and on the pitch. Lastly, I would like to thank both Mauricio Diaz de Leon and Paddy Coyne. Both of these coaches helped me become the player I am today and were there for me off and on the soccer field. ​

College-bound Player Spotlight: Max Edelstein

4/8/2019

 
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Max Edelstein plays for the SFEA 2000 & 2001 Boys NPL team and recently committed to Colgate University where he will play Division I college soccer. Everyone at the San Francisco Elite Academy is proud of his accomplishments on and off the field, and we were delighted that he took the time for our brief pathway to college interview.

Please be on the lookout for additional conversations with the many players at SFEA who are moving on to college-level play next year.


When did you first begin playing soccer and when did you know it was something you would want to do in college?
I have played soccer for as long as I can remember and have always been interested in continuing to play at the highest level possible. I really became serious about putting my efforts into pursuing college soccer around my sophomore year, but have always had it in the back of my mind as a goal I wanted to achieve. 

How has the San Francisco Elite Academy shaped you into the player and student athlete you are today?
I have played for San Francisco Elite Academy since the summer of my sophomore year, and, in part, I made the switch to the club because it allowed me to reduce my commute times to and from practice so that I could devote more time to my academic studies. I think the atmosphere surrounding San Francisco Elite Academy has always included other players who were as motivated as myself. This allows us to push each other to excel. In addition, I was able to find synergy between SFEA with my high school team at University High School, which allowed me to compete in both club and high school play and eventually  find success in both arenas. 

Choosing a college is daunting and finding one to also play soccer can make it even more so. Please share a few thoughts on your college-selection/recruiting process and how you came to the conclusion your school was right for you?
One key piece of advice I held onto was that whatever school I was going to attend I would still want to be there even if I was not playing soccer. Personally, I was looking for a school that combined rigorous academics with a successful soccer program, and in the end I found that Colgate was a place that fit all of these categories. After visiting, I was really able to picture myself as part of the community there. 

When did you begin working on your college recruiting and what did you do first?
I began working on my college recruiting process in my sophomore year by having discussions with my high school and SFEA coach. With their help, I made a preliminary list of institutions that I was interested in. I also began attending some of the different ID camps around the Bay Area as a way of exposing myself to the process in preparation for other ID camps around the country that I would attend in the summer. In addition, I compiled a highlight video to send college coaches before different showcases to attract attention to my games. I also emailed different coaches and invited them to my games, and I was able to start building connections with different schools. 

What key words of advice would you give fellow SFEA players who are just beginning the college recruiting (or finding a college soccer play opportunity) process?
I think the key to the college recruitment process is that it is a player-driven endeavor. By putting together your own highlight video, reaching out to coaches, and having discussions with people who have knowledge of the process, you can gain a lot of useful information on the best way to pursue the process. If you are active in building connections with different coaches and schools, and all the while continue to improve as a player, college soccer is an achievable goal. 

Please share what you are most excited about when it comes to attending your college--from student life to academics/areas of study as well as college play?
I am extremely excited to engage with a whole new community across the country and dive far deeper into my areas of academic interest. I am also perhaps most excited to compete at the collegiate level because it gives me a chance to continue to push myself as a player and play at an even higher level than before. 

Is there anyone you would like to specifically thank for helping you on your journey from youth player to elite prospect to college-level soccer?
I would like to thank all the wonderful coaches that have helped me become a collegiate-level player, and especially those who I worked with more recently over the past three years--Mauricio de Leon, Po Bronson, Deejae Johnson, and Chris Flanagan. In addition, I want to thank all my teammates who have pushed me to become the player I am today. Special shoutout to Luke Bronson and Henry Gorelik who I have played with almost everyday for three straight years. And of course, my family who have always been the most supportive of all my soccer endeavors and have spent countless hours driving, standing through the hot, cold, and rain, and always willing to remind me to have fun.  

College-bound Player Spotlight: Hannah McCord

4/8/2019

 
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Hannah McCord plays for the SFEA 2000 & 2001 Girls NPL team and recently committed to the University of Portland where she will play Division I college soccer. Everyone at the San Francisco Elite Academy is proud of her accomplishments on and off the field, and we were delighted that she took the time for our brief pathway to college interview.

Please be on the lookout for additional conversations with the many players at SFEA who are moving on to college-level play next year.



When did you first begin playing soccer and when did you know it was something you would want to do in college?
I started playing soccer when I was about three-years-old. I have older siblings who play, so soccer has been a part of my life for pretty much my entire life. 

How has the San Francisco Elite Academy shaped you into the player and student athlete you are today?
I’ve been a part of the club for a little over a year now. In that time my SFEA coaches have trained me to increase my soccer IQ, develop skills, and become mentally strong as a player.

Choosing a college is daunting and finding one to also play soccer can make it even more so. Please share a few thoughts on your college-selection/recruiting process and how you came to the conclusion your school was right for you?
When I was in eighth grade, I created a list of my top ten colleges. Over the past three years that list has changed as I lost schools’ interest and gained others. The school I decided on was on my original list and stayed on it until the end of my recruiting process. I knew the University of Portland was the right school for me because of its strong soccer culture, great coaching staff, and academic opportunities.  

When did you begin working on your college recruiting and what did you do first?
I started the recruiting process in eighth grade. I knew from the beginning that I wanted to play D1. So I did research, created a top ten list, started training on my own, and began going to ID camps. 

What key words of advice would you give fellow SFEA players who are just beginning the college recruiting (or finding a college soccer play opportunity) process?
I would advise players to try to find your top schools and then work hard to establish relationships with those coaches early on. Bug them with emails and calls until they know who you are. Calling a coach can be scary, especially if they have no clue who you are, but it is a great way to get their attention. Don’t get discouraged if a coach doesn’t come see you play. I emailed the University of Portland for a year before they came out to see me play. 

Please share what you are most excited about when it comes to attending your college--from student life to academics/areas of study as well as college play?
I’m excited about the strong soccer culture the University of Portland has. They have an amazing soccer stadium that's known nationwide and one of the biggest fan bases. Almost the entire coaching staff played for University of Portland and they are very experienced, great people. I don’t know what I want to study in college yet but I’m looking forward to exploring Portland's  wide variety of majors. 

Is there anyone you would like to specifically thank for helping you on your journey from youth player to elite prospect to college-level soccer?
I’d like to thank my previous club (San Francisco United) who helped me develop through my youth years. I’d especially like to thank Jeff Wilson, who brought me into the club and was my first SFEA coach. Lastly, a big thanks to Pinder Nijjar who has coached me for the past three seasons and guided me through the recruitment process. I'm grateful for the support of my family, teammates, and coaches through this process. 

SFEA Players Compete for High School Glory

2/22/2019

 
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On Saturday, a large number of SFEA players--boys and girls--will be playing for their respective high schools in sectional finals. In fact, over 30 San Francisco players from SFEA's senior boys and girls teams will be playing tomorrow to bring their high school championship glory. 

The San Francisco Elite Academy wishes all of our players still playing high school and their respective teams the best of luck as they wrap up their seasons. Many will be going on to next week's Norther California Regional Championship and we will keep you posted.


On the boys side, University High School 17-5-2 (featuring 7 SFEA boys players) will be playing Marin Academy 14-4-3 (with 2 SFEA boys) for the North Coast Section, Division IV title at 2pm Saturday at Paul Goode Field in the Presidio. University High School players include Luke Bronson, Henry Gorelik, Max Edelstein, Zeke Ume-Ukeje, Owen Flanagan, Nic Galleno, and Rocky Versace. Marin Academy features SFEA players Eli Swagel and Owen Swagel.

University High School and Marin Academy will be playing for the fourth time this winter, and University will be trying to back up its league season and league tournament championships while Marin Academy looks to avenge a heartbreaking loss on penalties in the league tournament final just two weeks ago.

Mission High School, at 13-1-3 will be playing for the San Francisco Section title against Washington High School 8-7-3 at 11am at Boxer Stadium. Mission features Mak Lau and Mike Larson while Washington has Michael Herrera and team captain Diego Vazquez-Diaz. The teams split their encounters this season and the section final should be a good one.

Additionally, Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep 12-7-3 (with 6 SFEA players) will be playing Wilcox in Santa Clara for the Central Coast Sectional, Division III title. Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep is coming off an impressive 2-0 win over number one seeded Pioneer in the section semi final. SFEA players include Alec Perliss, Eli Streicker-Hirt, Ellis Brenneman, Alex Bonville, Connor Coyle, and Kian Jones.

On the girls side, Lowell makes another late season run at championship glory by playing in the San Francisco Section final tomorrow versus Mission at 1.30pm at Boxer Stadium. The Lowell girls are 13-2-1 and feature a host of SFEA players--including Hannah McCord, Mariko Hokamura,  Kalea Papandrew, Shannon Li, Camila Bodden, Sarah Ginsburg, Simone Wesley, Natalia Potente. On the 8-2-1 Mission side of the championship tilt is SFEA player Raquel Lau.


In addition, SFEA players Lucinda Anderson, Grace Grassi and Sydney Ghobadian represent a Marin Academy girls team looking to put yet another feather in their cap. Sitting on a stellar 19-1-1 record, having won league and league tournament titles, Marin Academy will be playing Saturday against Cardinal Newman, the team that handed MA their only loss of the season in what was the very first game of the season. The final will be held at Santa Rosa High School at 7pm.

Since its inception, the San Francisco Elite Academy’s goal has been to raise the bar for San Francisco soccer and celebrate the success of the city’s most talented and dedicated soccer athletes. We are proud to see that goal realized, in part, through the year on year success of not only our club teams but those high school programs featuring our talented players as well. Again, best of luck to these players and their teams.




Three SFEA Teams Claim NorCal Champions League Spots

1/11/2019

 
Congratulations to the SFEA 2002 Boys, as well as the 2003 and 2005 Girls' teams, for claiming NorCal Champions League spots for the spring of 2019. Champions League divisions represent the highest level of play in northern California outside U.S. Soccer Development Academy play. All three teams had remarkable fall seasons that ended with them being in the critical top spots of their NPL 1 divisions.

For the 2002 Boys, NPL Champions League was our team goal for the fall," said Bobby Quinlan, head coach of the SFEA 2002 boys. As a group we created a set of values and expectations and it included Champions League play as a critical goal. I'm very proud of the team for working to be better each day, and now we look forward to competing for Champions League and State Cup titles this spring."

For the 2003 Girls it will be a second Champions League qualification in a row. Nonetheless, head coach Jeff Wilson knows that his 2003 girls cherish the high level competition. "The 2003 girls love competing against the very best players and clubs throughout Northern California. Like their accomplishments on the field, these girls are also successfully excelling in the classrooms of some of the most prestigious high schools in the bay area.  They've learned to balance daily schedules filled with college preparatory courses as well as competition against the most accomplished soccer players around. It all adds up to these 2003 girls being prepared for many great things ahead."

Currently, the 2002 Boys and 2003 teams are on a winter break while most of their players participate in high school play. The 2005 girls, who have also qualified for Champions League, are continuing to train together as a group over the winter.  "The 2005 Girls have really benefited with our club philosophy of mixing some training and play opportunties across age groups," said Tom Atencio, head coach of the 2005 Girls. "They go against the 2004 Girls quite often and that highly competitive environment carries them into games and in turn the Champions League for spring as well as our great results at 2018 Surf College Cup. In fact, across the 2004 and 2005 teams we have 8 players on the state PDP team, which is comparable to the very best ECNL teams in northern California. It's a credit to the girls themselves as well as the carefully considered training environment we've established to help them be the top players they want to become."

Good luck to all three teams this spring as they compete in the very highest divisions of Norcal play available.
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  • HOME
  • TRYOUTS
  • CAMPS
  • ABOUT
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • COACHING STAFF
    • PLAYERS FIRST™
    • LEADERSHIP
    • FIELDS
    • Fees and Financial Aid
    • THE SFEA WAY
    • FAQ
  • SOCCER PROGRAMS
    • SENIOR PROGRAM
    • YOUTH PROGRAM
    • JUNIOR PROGRAM
    • Micro Soccer
    • MLS Next
    • Girls Academy League
    • GOALKEEPER ACADEMY
    • COLLEGE PATHWAY
    • SHOWCASES
    • PDP / ODP
    • Soccer Performance
    • PEAK PERFORMANCE
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  • PLAY
    • WHY CHOOSE SFEA?
    • YEAR LONG CALENDAR
  • NEWS
  • CONTACT US
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