Two senior Beaver Area High School female athletes have committed to play Division I soccer.

Seniors Emerson Connelly and Sydney Chontos will be taking their academic and athletic careers to the next level.

Emerson Connelly - Mercyhurst University

Connelly’s dream of becoming a stellar soccer player started at the age of three.

As a young girl Connelly had many inspirations. Connelly said, “I’ve always been really competitive especially being in a family with all athletes.”

Connelly is a multi-sport athlete: she’s been a three-year letter winner in both soccer and basketball.

The first moment she played soccer she fell in love with it and knew from day one that she wanted to go all the way. The inspiration of her father and oldest brother both being D-I football players at Pitt inspired her to be the best.

Connelly’s love for the game and competitiveness motivated her to play D-I soccer.

The Bobcat soccer program also has made its mark on her athletic career: “I met amazing people and teammates who turned into sisters. Beaver Area taught me how important sticking together is and what a team really means. I’ll always cherish high school soccer.”

Schools started to show interest in Connelly during her sophomore year. Schools like Pitt, West Virginia University, University of Pennsylvania, Virgina Tech, and Villanova all showed major interest.

Unfortunately, Connelly experienced a minor setback when she got injured in her sophomore season and many schools lost that interest. Connelly was out for six months.

But over a year later schools starting showing interest in Connelly’s game. The spring of her junior year Mercyhurst University got in touch with Connelly thanks to a travel team coach who reached out to Mercyhurst about Connelly. Mercyhurst showed great interest.

Mercyhurst was recently promoted into a Division I school, previously competing Division II. Connelly is their first Division I soccer recruit.

Connelly’s first visit to Mercyhurst was May of her junior year.

Weeks later Mercyhurst officially offered Connelly a chance to play D-I soccer.

Through Connelly’s recruitment process she gives her appreciation to her older brother, Will, who went through a similar recruitment process and who was a kicker for Pitt.

Connelly also thanks her parents for giving her all of her opportunities and their support, as well as her Bobcat teammates and coaches who she will never forget.

Connelly’s future goals at Mercyhurst are to work hard and play big time for them.

Connelly said, “Mercyhurst is going to be something I’ve never dreamed of experiencing before; I’m going to push myself to my limit and be the best I can be. I’m excited to start the next chapter of my life and to see what the future has to offer for me as a person and athlete.”

Sydney Chontos - Robert Morris University

Chontos’s soccer journey started at the age of nine.

Most athletes who dream of D-I play start at a very young age, but Chontos began a bit later. However, that later start just gave Chontos the drive and motivation to work twice as hard as everyone else.

One thing that Chontos will carry with her that she learned from Beaver Area is, “Whenever you fail, it’s more important how you get up when you fall. I learned that at Beaver Area, and it’s something I’ll carry with me forever,” Chontos said.

Chontos really looks up to the United States national women’s team. She said, “they make the game of women’s soccer more exciting and they are inspiring because they stand up for what they believe in.”

However, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. Chontos’s biggest setback in high school was the fact that she didn’t play at a high level before high school so it was a harder adjustment for her than most girls.

Becoming a D-I athlete for any sport is no easy task. It’s a long process with recruitment and finding the place you want to call home.

Chontos had a wide selection of schools to choose from including Robert Morris University, Jacksonville University, Akron University, University of Pennsylvania, Valparaiso University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and Westminster College.

Chontos said, “My recruitment process was very long and stressful; it was hard finding the right place for me but it was fun searching for that right place.”

Chontos visited and attended camps at Valparaiso, Akron, Jacksonville, and Robert Morris Universities.

The summer of her senior year Chontos committed to Robert Morris University. With many schools as an option Robert Morris really stood out to her.

“The community, the coach and what she brings can really help me grow as a player and person I believe. I’m excited to start my new life at RMU,” she shared.

Chontos gives her appreciation to her coaches, her Bobcat teammates, teachers, and her family.

“I couldn’t get where I am today without them,” Chontos said.

Chontos is grateful to fulfill the dream of being a Division I athlete: “I’m beyond grateful and excited for the journey—and ready to put the work in.”

Congratulations to these two amazing student athletes; you’ll forever be a Beaver Area Bobcat and will always have this school in your corner. Good luck in your next chapter!