New girls soccer head coach and Health and PE teacher Lindsey Ottavio is a former Division I athlete.

Ottavio was a part of the women’s soccer team at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia.

For girls soccer, the recruitment process begins rather early. The process usually begins by sophomore year and student-athletes begin to verbally commit starting junior year.

In high school, Ottavio was recruited by multiple schools and was left deciding between a number of schools in Virginia.

“I ultimately narrowed it down to JMU and Longwood,” Ottavio said. “I verbally committed my junior year to Longwood and then signed my National Letter of Intent my senior year.”

Playing at the Division I level in any collegiate sport including soccer means much more rigorous competition.

“Playing a Division I sport was everything I hoped it would be,” Ottavio said. “It was competitive and challenging and required a lot of balancing the school-end of it as well as the athletic commitment.”

Along with the athletics in college, academics need to be maintained as well. With travel schedules, practice and games, it is difficult but important to balance both.

“You have to be able to schedule yourself so that you can maximize your success in both areas,” Ottavio said.

Now the new girls soccer coach, Ottavio is looking to relate her own experiences of playing soccer both in high school and at the collegiate level.