Written by EYEBRONCO reporter, Kendra Cavaney '15
Incoming freshman, Emily Johnson (EJ) is thrilled to start her first collegiate season for the Broncos. Choosing between places like Stanford and USC, Johnson has high hopes for the women's soccer team to capture the NCAA championship. Santa Clara Broncos (SCB) got the chance to ask Emily some questions and how her summer is going.
SCB: How is your summer so far? What have you been doing?
EJ: My summer has been great so far! Something about knowing that you have less time with your friends makes for some great memory making opportunities! I have been working on the athletic training packet that I was given by the coaches of the SCU women's soccer team.... so the workouts would pretty much take up some of my day every day. I have also been spending a fair amount of time at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, which is kind of funny because my boyfriend isn't the largest fan of the rides and because I'm deathly afraid of heights. But really my summer has consisted of soccer and hanging out with friends.... I honestly wouldn't have it any other way!
SCB: One thing you're looking forward to here at Santa Clara?
EJ: One thing huh? It's really hard to just pick one. I would have to say I would the atmosphere of community that is ridden through everyone. Santa Clara just seems like home when everybody accepts you without any judgment or preconceived notions.
SCB: Why did you choose SCU?
EJ: I chose SCU for two main reasons. The first reason being the community aspect that I talked about in my answer to number two. I thought about going to Stanford or USC but they were so driven in an individualistic manner. Those schools asked, "How can I succeed?" whereas Santa Clara asks, "How can we succeed?" Throughout high school I had always competed with other students to be the quote on quote best. I guess you could say that I learned how counterproductive it was and how unsatisfying it could become. Thus, Santa Clara is undoubtedly a needed change of pace for me. The second reason is that in Santa Cruz Santa Clara is somewhat of a tradition when it comes to soccer. I have three coaches from my club team who went there and who continuously rave of the experiences that they had. Also, another goalkeeper from my club team before me, Lisa Lahman, went there. So ever since I was about nine years old and first understood the stories that these mentors of mine were telling me, I wanted with all of my heart to go to Santa Clara. I guess you could say that this is a slightly cheesy reason for wanting to come to this school, but I can live with that. Santa Clara has always been the place for me to say the least.
SCB: Any goals as a player for your first college season?
EJ: I definitely have a lot of goals. I have a wide range of goals that go from getting some sort of playing time in my first year to just learning the most that I can about the game of soccer. I've always been one to set large goals in the distance but small ones in the present. So for now I would say my goal is to do my very best to get some playing time (which I know will not be at all easy because the goalkeepers in front of me, Andi Tostanoski and Molly Mettler, are fabulous). In terms of team goals, whether I have the privilege to get playing time or not, I think it is about time that Santa Clara takes home a second National Championship - all of the players now and the ones in the past deserve it for sure!