Scituate High School senior Piper Crotty is a future Division I soccer player for Merrimack College in North Andover, MA. Like many high school athletes, she began playing soccer with the Scituate youth soccer program for fun, playing with kids and learning the rules of the game. Crotty said her parents signed her up for an activity they thought she would be interested in, which ultimately became her passion and full-time commitment.
Noting that she developed a strong love for soccer during seventh and eighth grade, Crotty joined a club team, where she worked with quality coaches who taught her the fundamentals needed to stand out on the field. From there, she found her spark and fire to pursue the sport as she matured.
Commenting that her “life revolves around soccer,” Crotty is fully committed to the sport. Traveling from tournament to tournament, she sees her participation in soccer as a privilege. Crotty added, “I am extremely self-motivated, and if I put my mind to something, I’ll get it done.” She also said she enjoys the team aspect and the friendships she’s formed through her high school and club teams.
During the fall of her freshman year, Crotty tore her ACL and meniscus while playing in a high school game. This injury forced her to take a break from sports so her leg could heal. During this process, she was told that playing college soccer would not be possible because she had missed the chance for college scouts to watch her play.
As Crotty sat on the sidelines resting and recovering, everyone around her was committing to big schools for soccer. Although discouraged, she knew she had to complete rehabilitation and physical therapy to play again.
Doctors cleared Crotty to play soccer again after almost two years. When she heard these words, she didn’t hesitate and immediately returned to the field. Even though doctors – and others – once told her playing soccer in college wasn’t an option, she didn’t believe them and kept playing.
“I began to value practice time because I didn’t want to be in the position I was before,” Crotty said. Highly motivated, Crotty went to practice and played her best – as if it was a game. She ignored the people who didn’t believe her soccer college dreams, and she began to work harder than before.
The ultimate reward came in her junior year – in the form of a formal offer to play for Merrimack women’s soccer. Crotty is forever grateful, stating, “My parents are the reason I am where I am today. They have put so much money and time into me being able to pursue my dreams.”