09/16/2026
I sat down with Emily Blanchard, who played college soccer at Utah Tech right here in St. George, and asked her what it actually took to get there.
Not the highlight reel. The real stuff.
Emily started as early as she could — around 3. She grew up in a soccer family. Her mom is from Argentina and loves the game. Her brothers played. But Emily wanted it differently. The difference between her and a lot of talented players: how badly she wanted it, and how much work she put in outside of team practice.
College soccer started to feel real in ODP, when training became something she chose because she wanted to get better. Freshman year of high school, coaches started pushing players to email colleges. Emily wasn’t sure yet. Then she had a strong freshman season and thought, okay — this can actually be an option.
Beyond regular practice:
• Strength trained 3–4 times a week
• One-on-one technical sessions
• Kept a ball at her feet — at home, on family walks, whenever she could
To get on coaches’ radars: a good club team, ODP, emails, and ID camps. ODP got her exposed first. An ID camp made it a real opportunity. Her advice: choose ID camps wisely, especially when a coach invites you. Easy way for them to see you and for you to see campus.
What did coaches care about most?
Not flash for flash’s sake. Could she play simple? Play quick? Read the game? Be good with the ball without holding it too long? Stay composed when things got uncomfortable?
Emily played mostly as a wing and was recruited that way. She started strength training early to help prevent injuries — still one of the most important things a young player can do.
Grades mattered too. Not because coaches only chase a transcript, but because it shows a player can be a student-athlete. Character shows up off the field as much as on it.
If she could talk to her 14- or 15-year-old self:
Weight train. Run. Sprint. Work speed and agility. Do as much as you can on your own.
Parents, that’s the real recruiting story. Desire. Extra work. The right places. Playing the game the right way. A body and mind that can handle the next level.
If your player has that dream, start treating the habits now — not someday.
