Division One is the pinnacle of college sports, and for many athletes, unattainable. For Haylee Rios, however, this dream became a reality when she committed to play soccer at Eastern Illinois University the summer before her senior year.
Her journey commenced at just three years old when she started off at AYSO. In these early years, Haylee was a dual sport athlete, playing both soccer and basketball. While she is now a full fledged soccer player, it didn’t always seem that it would be this way. As a young athlete, Rios struggled to choose between the two sports.
Haylee cites a u12 club tournament as the defining moment in which she knew that soccer was her choice.
“I started club at u10 but I played u12, so I played a couple years up. Then I won a tournament with them and I kind of knew that that experience was something I liked to feel– winning was really fun, and the environment of soccer was more normal for me compared to playing basketball,” Rios said.
After playing club for a couple of years, Rios’ aspirations to compete at a higher level arose in sixth grade.
“Whenever I was asked in middle school, ‘What do you wanna be when you grow up?’ I just said ‘I want to be a professional soccer player,’” said Rios. “It became more serious for me definitely like sixth grade…I could start taking it really seriously and go far. I never really thought of division 1, 2, or 3 in middle school, but I always wanted to play in college.”
Since then, Rios has been playing at a high level in club soccer, and while this was imperative in cultivating her skill as a player, it has prevented her from playing high school soccer for the past three years.
Nevertheless, she showcased her dedication to the team by serving as team manager last season, attending nearly every game and practice despite being unable to play due to IHSA rules, which state that a player cannot be on both a club team and a high school team at the same time.
After skipping an end of club tournament this year, Haylee is now eligible to play high school soccer, and is looking to finish off her last semester at LFHS as a key player for the Lake Forest Girls Varsity Soccer Team.
“Everyone was so excited that Haylee could officially play for the soccer team,” said Team Captain Ryan Rice. “She is such a presence on and off the field, has a really good soccer IQ, and knows the game well. She is our lead goal scorer so far and we are so lucky to have her this year.”
With five goals and one assist in just the first three games, it is shaping up to be an impressive senior season for Rios.
“Haylee’s been a great addition to the team. She’s a little spark plug out there. She never stops running,” Head Coach Ty Stuckslager said. “Probably more than anything in practice, her hard work, but also her positive outlook on things, shines through; she’s so positive. I think it flows over to the rest of the team and we all want to rise to that level.”
Her positive persona and hardworking attitude are just two characteristics that contribute to the team both on and off the field. Her speed, technicality, and vision are the qualities that make her a standout player.
“She is a spitfire on and off the field and it’s impressive to see the speed at which she plays on the field,” said Assistant Coach Meaghan Cook, “She is always thinking about how she can improve her game and be a good teammate. Her focus, grit, and speed of play make her a dynamic player and it’s so fun to watch her get to do her thing this year.”
As for her undeniable skill, Rios credits role model and friend Korbin Albert as her soccer inspiration. As a prolific player for the US Women’s National Team and Paris Saint-Germain FC (one of the top clubs in France’s first division, Ligue 1), Albert’s history with Rios spans back nearly a decade.
“I’ve been training with her for eight years and her mom’s my trainer too,” said Rios. “I’ve been able to see her ups and downs over the years. She really inspires me because she really didn’t have a lot growing up and she made a lot out of nothing. Her hard work and how she is now, I just aspire to be like her.”
In regards to the future, Haylee will be playing for the Eastern Illinois Panthers for the next four years, and is looking forward to beginning a new chapter in her soccer journey.
“I’m excited to play soccer at a higher level, and I’m just really excited to just meet and play with new people. I know it’s a complete change of pace, so I’m just excited to see a different side of soccer that I haven’t seen yet.”
