As part of a new content series, SoccerWire is publishing Q&A articles with recently-committed players who are Featured in the SoccerWire Player Directory. The series will allow 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 goalkeeper Ainsley Chunn, who has recently verbally committed to playing college soccer in 2024 at the College of Charleston. Chunn plays her club soccer for South Carolina United FC in the ECNL and attends high school at Oceanside Collegiate Academy, where she is a standout on the soccer team.
SoccerWire Featured Player since July 2022
SoccerWire: What made you decide to verbally commit to Charleston?
Ainsley Chunn: I decided to verbally commit to Charleston because I love the campus, the coaches, and the team as a whole. The campus is beautiful, near the beach, and the downtown atmosphere is great! The coaches at Charleston are really supportive and I love how encouraging they are.
SW: What was the recruitment process like for you? What did you learn about yourself while going through it?
AC: The recruitment process for me was crazy. It was difficult to keep up with all the emails, text messages, and phone calls. For me, I had a couple of phone calls a day during this period and it was fun to be able to meet all the different coaches. I learned that I wanted to stay in the South during this process. One thing I learned during this process was that hard work really does pay off. I underestimated myself a lot and when the process was over it was amazing to see all the hard work pay off.
SW: How has South Carolina United prepared you for the next level?
AC: South Carolina United has helped me prepare for the next level in many ways. My Coaches were super proactive and helped me gain exposure in the ECNL, which can be difficult. They also have the Bantams, which is a team in the USL W [League]. The team has current college players on it, and it is super helpful to train with people that are already at the next level.
SW: Do you have a favorite experience with your club that sticks out in your memory?
AC: My favorite experience with my club was going to Seattle for ECNL Nationals. Our team has traveled all around the country but Seattle was definitely my favorite. Part of our team rented a house and it was super fun to spend time with my teammates off the field also.
SW: What’s your earliest soccer memory?
AC: My earliest soccer memory is my first slide tackle. I was seven or eight years old and playing on a team coached by my dad. I remember sliding to stop a ball from going in the goal and my dad being so excited because it was something we had worked on in practice.
SW: What’s the best piece of advice that you have received from a coach?
AC: The best piece of advice I ever got from a coach was actually from my basketball coach. Coach Mandy shaped me into a leader and always pushed me to work my hardest. The best piece of advice she’s ever given me was if I want to be the best or have the best team I can’t only push myself, I need to push and motivate everyone around me to be their best also.
SW: What are you interested in studying in college and why?
AC: I want to major in Marine Biology because I love animals and the ocean. Underwater photography is also something that can be incorporated into marine biology and I would love to do something in that spectrum.
SW: Outside of soccer, what clubs, organizations, and/or jobs are you involved with?
AC: Outside of soccer, I work at a restaurant, and play high school basketball. Basketball is helpful to me because it helps with my hand-eye coordination and helps me work on my leadership skills as a captain.
SW: What are your favorite pair of soccer cleats that you have ever worn?
AC: My favorite boots I have ever worn are my Nike Zoom Mercurial Superfly 9 Elite FGs. They were custom-made and have my name on them. They are all red and I have made some of my best saves ever in them.
SW: Is there anyone that you would like to give a shout out to for helping you in your career or in the classroom?
AC: I would like to give a shout-out to my Mom and Dad. They have always supported me no matter what. I would also like to give a shout-out to my goalkeeper coach, Matt Pasquinelli. I have been working with him for around three years now and he has developed me into the goalkeeper I am today. And finally, a shout-out to my first ECNL coach, Tomasz Kluszczynski for giving me the opportunity to play with SC United.
