By Louis Galdos
Elm Staff Writer
In her first season at Washington College, freshman forward Emily Caldarelli has already made a name for herself on the Shorewomen’s soccer team. In the four games that she’s started in this season, Caldarelli has scored three goals and recorded three assists.
She has been named Goose Nation TV Shorewoman Player of the Game once.
“I feel I have done pretty well transitioning from high school to college. I have played travel soccer for a long time, so I’m used to the high level of competition. However, it is different going from being the oldest player to the youngest,” she said. “Thankfully, I have a team that always pushes me to improve and challenges me to the next level.”
One of her goals is to make the conference tournament. She believes her team has the talent to make it happen. She is on the track to obtaining her bachelor’s degree in nursing. After graduating, she plans to move to California to further her education and become a nurse anesthetist.
An Elkton native, Caldarelli lettered in soccer, basketball, and tennis during her career at Elkton High School.
In soccer, she was named Cecil County Player of the Year after leading her school’s division in scoring. She was a three-time first-team All-Division and three-time first-team All-County selection, and she still holds the school record for most goals.
Caldarelli also was an all-star in academics: she was valedictorian of her class, vice president of her school’s National Honor Society, and achieved honor roll every semester in high school. She participated in the STEM academy and was a three-time class president.
In any student-athlete’s first season playing at the collegiate level, it can always be difficult making the transition from high school sports to competitive collegiate sports. As a student, it can be even tougher balancing sports and academics.
“Emily has been improving game by game after picking up an injury in preseason,” said Head Coach Tom Reilly. “I think her performance against Gettysburg was her best of the season and we are confident she will be a real impact player for us as the season progresses. The transition isn’t only from high school to the collegiate level, but also learning to play with a whole new set of teammates under a coach she never played.”
Assistant Coach Julia Kantor said she knows Caldarelli has moved past her early injury and is looking forward to the rest of the Shorewomen’s season.
“Emily understands she has a lot to learn with different styles of play, new teammates, and coaching but she is driven to be the best that she can be. I am proud to be Emily’s coach and looking forward to see her development throughout the rest of the season,” she said.