9 Questions with Quinn Sokol • FC United DA U17 Team

FC United is Chicagoland's leading competitive youth soccer club and has programs for players 4-18 years old. At FC United, we build passion and expertise in every player and team. Our player first philosophy provides the absolute best future development opportunities for our young athletes. Because of this, many of our athletes end up getting recruited to play soccer in college.

Across our many levels, Little Trevian Academy through Development Academy, we properly develop soccer players and create an individualized, unmatched family experience.

We are delighted to learn when our players want to continue their soccer story. We will always be their number one fans and follow them along the way.

Quinn Sokol recently committed to Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA. Quinn grew up in Lake Forest, IL and will be graduating from Lake Forest High School in 2019. She has been with the club since 2017 and currently plays for our FC United U17 Development Academy.

She is choosing to play college soccer at Saint Joseph’s University and says that size and location were big in her decision. “I wanted a medium sized school on in the northeast. When I met the coaches they were very nice and took a couple hours out of their schedules to show me around campus. They also connected me with one of their freshman players and she said that they (the coaches) truly care about you as a person and not just as a player which is something that you should always look for in a coach and program. When they sat me down to talk,  they said to take my time with the process, and that they were always available. That really made me feel  awesome because many coaches in all sports will pressure you into making a decision which can be very nerve wracking for a high school student. Also, SJU has a great business school. It was acknowledged in the Princeton Review as one of the 295 best business schools in America. 295 may seem like a lot, but out of all the colleges in the US? That’s impressive. A good business school was definitely a big factor in my decision.

How did Quinn get recruited? Well, we've asked her all the questions you want to know! Quinn’s passion for soccer is clear and she wants to share her story hoping to inspire all of you!

FCUDA - What challenges are you expecting to face as a collegiate soccer player?

QS - Honestly, just getting some playing time. At college, everybody is as good as you are and some even better than you so you will definitely have to work during pre-season to get yourself noticed.

FCUDA - How did FCU prepare you to become a successful student athlete?

QS - With the new DA schedule and requirements for practice there is more expected from the players which is great because it helps prepare us to be self sufficient with both our athletics and academics. My time management skills have definitely improved since my start with the DA.

FCUDA - What is your favorite restaurant and what do you get there?

QS -  For sure, Caputo’s in downtown Lake Forest. I always get a caprese sandwich with a side of balsamic vinegar. The balsamic is not a normal balsamic and it just makes the sandwich. Also, their marble brownie cheesecake thing. It has a little bit of coffee in it and it’s very rich - but it’s so good!

FCUDA - Who is your biggest inspiration?

QS - I don’t really have an inspiration. I guess if I were to have one it would be the seniors from my high school team. They were all very supportive and caring for everyone, especially the freshmen. They helped create the chemistry on the team.

FCUDA - Who is your favorite Sports Team and why?

QS - Call me a bandwagoner, but I like the Cubs. Obviously, because they won the World Series 2 years ago and the whole state of Illinois went insane. Otherwise, I don’t really have a favorite team. However, I do like watching college football. It’s just cool to think that here are some big buff guys on TV hitting each other and then the next day they are in a classroom working and being lectured.

FCUDA - Do you have any pregame rituals or superstitions before a game?

QS - NO FRENCH BRAIDS. Everytime I play with french braids, I play really badly. My friend and I have this tradition if we are driving together to listen to “Never Say Never” by Justin Bieber. I don’t know how it originated, but it stuck.

FCUDA - What would your dream job be?

QS - CEO of a successful business. That may not happen though because 9 out of 10 businesses fail within their first year.

FCUDA - What's your fondest FCU memory?

QS - My fondest FCU memory was probably scoring a goal in the last game of the Florida showcase. Call me conceited, but I don’t get those kinds of moments very often playing on the defense!

FCUDA - What piece of advice would you give to current and future FCU players that want to play soccer in college? 

QS – Communication is key. I suggest creating a recruiting email with your first name and last name then graduation year. It helps keep you organized and makes sure that you see every email you get from a coach. You don’t want to miss an opportunity! Also, don’t be pressured into only talking with well known schools. It’s okay if you want to go to a small D3 school. It’s your recruiting journey, not your teammates or your family’s. You need to know what you want.

Quinn Sokol, congratulations on committing to play collegiate soccer at Saint Joseph’s University! We see bright things ahead for your future and we will be rooting for you along the way!

There are many attributes that college coaches look for when they are recruiting players. Many of these attributes align with how we develop our players. We are so proud of all of our boys and girls. CLICK HERE to see where our other FC United and Development Academy players are going and have gone.

Are you a U13 - U19 player? Check out FCU Development Academy

Are you a U12 - U18 player? Check out FC United Premier

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