The recruiting process for high school athletes is almost like a full-time job.
On top of keeping grades up as full-time students, they also need to maintain a level of play on the field to stand out in front of coaches and recruiters.
For Cumberland (R.I.) High School and Rhode Island Surf striker Emma Kucal, despite her monster success on the pitch, she still experienced setbacks along the way.
Kucal was named Rhode Island's Gatorade Player of the Year last year as just a sophomore, when she led the Clippers to a 14-4 record and a trip to the Division 1 state semifinals. She scored 20 goals, passed for a state-best 19 assists and recorded at least one point in every game. However, she later suffered an injury that disrupted her recruiting process.