Welcome to our essential weekly blog series on college recruitment! Whether you're just beginning your journey or are already deep into the process, this series is designed with you in mind. We'll delve into crucial topics like crafting an impressive highlight video, developing a strategic college list, and mastering the art of securing scholarships. Regardless of where you stand, our series is filled with essential tips and guidance to propel you towards success. Join us every week as we equip you with the insights and tools necessary to confidently navigate the recruitment landscape. 

In Today’s Edition

• Rethinking the "D1 or Bust" Mindset!

• 2027 Northeast D1 commitments: We've tracked 156 commitments and 11 Transfers across 50 schools!

• 2 Connecticut Showcase Opportunities This Winter!

⚽ - Rethinking the "D1 or Bust" Mindset!

Today, we're featuring an article by Erica Mulholland, a 3x All-American soccer player and Johns Hopkins Hall of Famer. Driven by her passion for helping young female athletes thrive, she earned a Master's in Exercise Science focused on performance enhancement and injury reduction.

In her piece, Erica shares her own story of turning down Division I soccer offers and explains why the D1 route isn't always the best—or only—path to college soccer.

Turning Down D1 Soccer Offers Was My Best Decision

If you’re reading this article, please take what I say and think critically. You don’t need to do what I did, but consider this perspective, too.

Every young players journey to college soccer will be different, and I’m not ignorant to the fact that the D1 path is AMAZING for many, and they thrive taking that route. But it wasn’t for me. And it’s not for everyone.

This blog piece is me simply sharing my story so young girls soccer players know that there are other paths to college soccer beyond Division I. Because the truth is, a tiny percentage make it to the top D1 level. For everyone else, you need to be flexible and pursue the right fit, and not limit yourself to D1 only.

The "D1 or Bust" Mindset

Too often I hear the D1-or-bust mindset from players on a weekly basis. “I want to play D1!” they say. And I always follow up with a direct “WHY?”

Oddly enough, no one has been able to give me a genuine, in-depth answer. They just “want to go D1.”

So I press even further and ask, “well, what schools are you looking at?” Players will list schools like Clemson, UConn, UNC, Notre Dame, Florida State, and all the well-known D1 schools that the top 1% play at. Then I follow up with, “okay, what specifically about these schools do you like?”

No response. Crickets chirping.

Know Your WHY

When it comes to college soccer recruiting, you must know your why – why are you pursuing these schools? If I ask this question to your face, you must have a deeper list of reasons other than “I just want to go D1.” You don’t need to know this until you’re of recruiting age, too. Please, if you’re 10-years-old reading this, don’t rush. Yes, have big dreams, but narrow down your list by high school when things get real.

So what do you want? Is it that school’s soccer culture? Is it the coaching staff? Is it the academic offerings combined with the level of soccer? Is the campus close to home? Is it a big or small school? Will you come in playing a lot and be an impact freshman? What is it? Have you done your research on the team traditions, culture, their roster, their records? Anything?

If you don’t have a why, you won’t last and you will end up unhappy. You’ll arrive on campus disappointed that you didn’t truly think thoroughly about where you wanted to go, and you just decided to go to a D1 program where you had no clue the culture, the coaching styles, your amount of playing time, and if you would even like the school without soccer.

And I know how your story ends. Like a lost puppy, into the transfer portal you go.

Before You Make a BIG Decision

Just like deciding who you marry, deciding on where you go to play college soccer is one of the biggest decisions of your life. It’s another four years where you have the potential to develop into a better player and human, build close relationships and lifelong friendships with your teammates, and get the academics you need to launchpad you into your real-world career when soccer ends.

I have this horrible feeling a lot of young players aren’t thinking long-term anymore. They follow the trends, the D1 commit Instagram posts, and put pressure on themselves to do what everyone else is doing. Today’s world is about social media clout, getting the most Likes and being accepted by your friends (and strangers) online. You can’t wait to make the post and write the caption, “I’m grateful to announce my commitment to play D1 soccer at…”

I have a gut-wrenching feeling that some players are more excited about making the social media post, rather than playing in college. But I urge young players today to not do what social media wants, but what you want.

What do you truly want out of your college soccer experience? Is it playing time? Is it being on a winning team? Is it being friends with your teammates? Is it an amazing coach? Is it a major you want to study that only that school offers? Is it getting financial aid? Can your family even afford this school? What scholarships do they offer? Are you even good enough soccer and academic-wise to receive scholarship money?

You need to wrestle with all of this, and get crystal clear.

Look Beyond Division I

Disclaimer: this isn’t to say don’t go D1, or that D1 schools don’t have these opportunities. Again, some players thrive and pick the D1 school that was the right fit for them, and they didn’t just pick it because it’s D1. They looked at their area of study, the coach, the team, watched games, and deeply researched a multitude of other factors. They researched the current roster and understood if they even fit at that level.

I’m sorry, but if you’re on the third-best team at your youth soccer club, it’s very hard to compete with U.S. Youth Soccer National team players that are on Florida State.

But it’s also worth mentioning that it’s weird how little players know about other divisions and how amazing they are, too.

Any time I list the best soccer and academic D3 programs like Wash U (who just won the 2025 national title) or Messiah who has won multiple national titles, or Emory who was a national finalist in 2025, or University of Chicago who has consistently ranked in the Top 10 for D3 soccer and has one of the best business programs in the country, or MIT the academic powerhouse who is consistently in the Top 25, players have no clue that these schools exist.

These are just a few examples of the many hidden gems in D3 players need to be open to.

Why I Turned Down D1

When I was a junior in high school playing for the top travel club in the state of Maryland, Bethesda Soccer Club, I got offers from University of Maryland, University of Wisconsin, and George Washington University – all D1 programs.

I wasn’t sure how much playing time I would get at these programs. It was all up in the air. The Johns Hopkins coach, on the other hand, told me I could play a lot and be an impact freshman if I came in and proved myself. Playing time was important to me, and I knew this about myself. I wasn’t willing to compromise on this. I want to be out on the field and not ride the bench. I’d rather walk on fire than be a bench warmer.

Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t get cocky after coach told me I would be an impact player coming in. I still worked during the summer offseason before freshman year of college. I did strength and conditioning relentlessly. I played pick-up soccer with college men’s players to improve my speed of play and creativity. Earning playing time wasn’t a cakewalk when I arrived at Hopkins. It took about a month to prove to the coach I should be the starting left midfielder. I worked my butt off. And I turned into a starter.

Expounding further, I chose Hopkins for the high level of academics, the smaller size of the school, the closeness of the girls on the team, and the fun team traditions. I researched their record over the years. I went out to watch a handful of their games. I saw for myself they were a winning D3 team playing quality soccer. Hopkins was always the best team in their conference and ranked nationally in the Top 25. I wanted to be a part of their continued success and help them rack up even more conference titles.

The Best Decision I Ever Made

Looking back, choosing D3 over D1 was the best decision I made. College soccer at Johns Hopkins was the best time of my life and I look back fondly on my time being a Bluejay. I started all 4 years, loved my teammates, loved our memories and traditions, played a ton of minutes, won 4 conference titles, was team captain, and left an impact on the program. And somehow, passed my academics, learning grit, work ethic, and resilience in the process.

Being a soccer player at a top academic institution in the world sure has its way of making you bust your butt and learn critical life lessons for the real world. In fact, my transition from college to my career in the real world was easy. Nothing hard fazes me. Challenges pump me up. Adversity is where I thrive. I thank Johns Hopkins for this because the rigorous academics lighted my competitive fire even more. A certain type of hyper-competitive, type-A student-athlete chooses to go to the school. It ain’t for everyone. And only the strong survive.

Adding on, I made lifelong friends who I still catch up with today. Several of my college teammates came to my wedding. And we all continue to meet up when we are in each other’s area.

The other day when I was visiting my hometown in Maryland, I was able to catch up with one of my former Hopkins teammates over lunch. It was 3 hours of laughter and reflecting on our wildly fun times in college with the Hopkins women’s soccer team – the bus rides, the team dinners, the nights going out, the hardest games against our rivals, the preseason shenanigans, the fitness tests, and so much more. I asked her what her recruiting story was, and she told me she turned down an offer from CLEMSON UNIVERSITY!

We both high-fived each other and said at the same time, "BEST. DECISION. EVER." And continued to burst out laughing at how amazing things worked out for us. She’s now a successful dentist in Maryland who runs her own practice. She was grateful for the high level of medical education she got, while also playing for a badass soccer team. She thought long-term during her recruiting journey, and what she wanted for her life after soccer ended.

Your Journey is Your Own

I understand not everyone will have my journey, or my former teammate’s journey. I get that not everyone will happily turn down D1 offers like we did. But all I ask is to look deeper into your why. Even if you want to play at a top D1 like UNC, ask why.

I have worked with a lot of girls who chose D1 and loved their experience. But they were extremely clear about what they wanted out of college soccer. I remember having lengthy conversations with a lot of them about their decision. They weighed their options, made their pros vs. cons lists, didn’t make quick decisions, and were able to come to a conclusion with clarity.

On the other end, I have trained girls who have chosen other routes like D2, D3, and JUCO, all happy with their decisions. Everyone’s journey is different, but do what YOU want, not what social media wants. Follow your needs, not trends.

⚽ 2 New Connecticut Showcase Opportunities This Winter!

I’ve teamed up with XG Sports to bring you an exclusive deal for their two premier events in Connecticut this winter. As a reader of our newsletter, you can use the code SCN50 to get $50 off your registration!

Important!

If you’re registering for the event, please send me a quick email ([email protected]), and we can work together to invite more coaches from your ‘recruiting list.’ We’ll send coaches alerts that you’re playing and extend an invitation for them to attend.

This opportunity is open to all readers of this newsletter—don’t miss out!

📅 Event Details & Registration
👉 Register for Both Events Here

Boys Event: January 10th

👨‍🎓 Boys Registered Coaches

• Boston College - Providence College

• Army (West Point) - University of Vermont

• UCONN - UMASS Amherst

• Quinnipiac University - Sacred Heart University

• NJIT - University of New Haven

• Mount Saint Vincent - Connecticut College

• Central Connecticut State University - Gettysburg College

• Emmanuel College - Hartwick College

• Hartford - Endicott College

• Albertus Magnus College - SUNY Maritime

• Nichols College - UMass Dartmouth

• Western Connecticut - Wheaton

Girls Event: February 7th

👩‍🎓 Girls Registered Coaches

• NY/NJ Gotham FC (NWSL) - Providence College

• Boston University - UCONN

• Fordham - University of Rhode Island

• Yale University - Fairfield University

• University of New Hampshire - Quinnipiac University

• CCSU - Le Moyne College

• Southern New Hampshire - Southern Connecticut State University

• Wesleyan University - Bay Path University

• Smith College - West Conn

• Mount Holyoke - Clarkson University

• Elms College - Bard

• Lesley University - Wellesley College

• Dean College - Marywood University

• Emmanuel College - Stevens Institute of Technology

Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your talent in front of top college coaches and scouts!

🎟️ Use Code: SCN50
Save $50 on your registration today!

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Stay in the loop and never miss an update!

⚽ 2027 Northeast D1 commitments: We've tracked 156 commitments and 11 Transfers across 50 schools!

2027 Northeast D1 Commitments!

We’ve noticed that 2027 signings are slowly starting to pick up again as the transfer portal has been open for a few weeks now. Seeven local Northeast colleges have announced 11 incoming players from the portal.

Stay tuned as we continue to monitor the ever-changing landscape!

6 schools on this list are at or near capacity for the 2027 class (Based on the amount of juniors they have to replace) Penn State, Syracuse, Cornell, Colgate, Dartmouth and Providence.

2027s: You MUST Do your homework before attending ID clinics!

⚽ Ready to take control of your college soccer journey?

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Your Go-To Websites/Social Media Leaders

• The Steve Coxon Soccer Network - Click Here

• Join our FREE Soccer Scholarship Community and connect with like-minded players and parents navigating the same path “The Recruiting Hub” - Click Here

• Soccer Spotlight Video, run by ex-D1 player Jack Burridge, can turn your full-game footage or specific timestamps into polished highlight videos (Mention The Steve Coxon Network to receive 10% off your next order)- Click Here

• 2024 Men's NCAA Division 1 Soccer Tournament Bracket - Click Here

• 2024 Women's NCAA Division 1 Soccer Tournament Bracket - Click Here

• RPI - Check out the Women's College Soccer RPI by clicking this link.

• RPI - Check out the Men's College Soccer RPI by clicking this link.

• NCAA Eligibility Center - Click Here 

• United Soccer Coaches - Awards and Rankings 

• Twitter/X - @Imyouthsoccer

• Twitter/X - @ImCollegesoccer

• Exclusive Insights from College Coaches on the Recruiting Process - https://discovercollegesoccer.com/schools/

• The Informed Athlete - Helping student-athletes excel in sports and academics while navigating eligibility rules - Click Here

About: Steve Coxon College Soccer Network

Steve has 20 years of college-level experience, 17+ years in D1 as the Head Recruiter. He has facilitated more than $30 million in college scholarships.

Location - Connecticut, USA