SoccerWire is publishing Q&A articles with recently-committed players who have Featured Profiles in the SoccerWire Recruiting Directory. The series allows players to share their stories on the college recruiting process, travel and high school soccer, and their passion for the beautiful game.
In this edition we will showcase Haley Pazahanick, who has committed to playing NCAA Division I soccer in 2025 at Georgia State University. Pazahanick plays travel soccer in the ECNL for Challenge SC.
Pazahanick is a central defensive midfielder for Challenge SC. For her high school Klein Cain she has previously earned Texas 6A Most Valuable Player honors.
SoccerWire: What made you decide to verbally commit to Georgia State?
Haley Pazahanick: I was looking for a combination of competitive soccer, academics, location, weather, and great coaches and Georgia State checked off all those boxes. I had an incredible visit as I got to hang out with the players, spend a lot of time with the coaches, watch an inter-squad scrimmage, tour the great facilities, see what a film session would be like, and tour the downtown Atlanta campus and a players dorm. I am looking forward to competing in the Sunbelt conference, am very grateful for this opportunity, and plan to graduate early so I can take part in next year’s spring soccer season and hopefully contribute as a freshman.
SW: What was the recruiting process like and what did you learn about yourself while going through it?
HP: The recruiting process was a bit of a rollercoaster and a lot of work. I spent so much time during my sophomore year emailing coaches and making highlight videos and was lucky to play in the ECNL where we always had a lot of coaches on the sidelines at our showcases. I was blessed to have a lot of interest as over 40 schools reached out wanting a call within the first seven days after June 15th which was very hectic and a bit stressful as we were preparing for the ECNL playoffs at the same time. What I didn’t realize at the time was that having a call was only the first step in the process and still a long way from getting a verbal offer. The other surprise was the amount of coaching changes as I had nine programs I was speaking with, had visited, or had offers to that changed coaches so very happy I was patient in my process. I gained a lot of confidence in my ability to talk to college coaches and time management as I had to balance academics, ECNL soccer, extra training, and strength training as well as emails, texts, calls, and visits as part of the recruiting process. My parents encouraged me to take my time and not make a fast decision and the further along in the process I went the more I started to understand the things that were important to me in making such a big decision.
SW: How do you believe your skillset fits into Georgia State’s style of play?
HP: Georgia State plays a possession style of soccer which I am looking forward to and all three coaches played the same position I play, center defensive mid, in college. I feel my competitiveness, work rate, athleticism, 1v1 defense, and range of passing will fit in well with what their expectations are of a CDM in their system.
SW: What are your favorite subjects in school and what do you think you would like to study in college?
HP: My favorite subject in school is physics because I love the projects that we get to do. I think I would like to study business in college, but I am still researching options.
SW: Growing up, who was your favorite soccer player?
HP: Growing up, my favorite player was Messi.
SW: Outside of soccer, what do you enjoy doing?
HP: Outside of soccer, I enjoy going to the gym, the movies, and shopping with my friends.
SW: What are your favorite pair of cleats that you have ever owned?
HP: Nike Mercurials with ankle sleeves have always been my favorite.
SW: What has your experience been like playing for Challenge SC?
HP: I have loved playing for Challenge and started on the RL team and worked my way up to the ECNL team 3 years ago. Our team is very close, and we always have competitive training sessions where coaches provide a lot of feedback to try to push us to be better. I have grown so much as a player during my time there and very thankful to the club and coaches.
SW: How did you get the nickname Halo?
HP: I got the nickname Halo because when I was younger, Haley was such a common name. I had a good friend named Logan, and we decided to mash our names together to give me a nickname, Ha from my name and Lo from hers. It is funny as almost everyone in the soccer world calls me Halo.
SW: How did Social Media help in your recruiting?
HP: Social media has been great to help increase my exposure (as has SoccerWire) but also to meet other players. I have made so many friendships on Twitter and Instagram as so many of us are going through the same things and have the same goals to play college soccer. I enjoy seeing other players in their day-to-day lives, seeing what they do for fun, how they balance academics and soccer, training ideas as well as how they promote themselves to coaches. Social media has been incredibly helpful for me.
SW: If you could give one piece of advice to a younger player who wants to play as a defensive midfielder what would it be?
HP: One piece of advice that I would give to a younger player would be to always try to be the hardest worker on and off the field. Show your superpowers (what you do best) on the field whether that is 1v1 defense, short and long passes, winning balls out of the air, slide tackling, intercepting balls, blocking shots, and being a great teammate.
SW: Is there anyone that you would like to give a shoutout to who has helped you both on and off of the field?
HP: I would like to give a huge shout-out to my parents for their support, love, and constant encouragement, and for always being there for me during the ups and downs. I have also received amazing soccer training and coaching from Coach Pat, Stuart, Rich, Russell, Ty, and Ashely on the Sports Performance side. I could never thank them enough or possibly repay them for the positive impact they have had on my journey and excited to start the next chapter of it this coming January!
