Merel Vleemink

Personal statement

I am an offensive goalkeeper, I do not stand on the line very often and I will support the defense by remaining playable as often as possible. I try to coach my team as well as possible, because I can see the entire field, so I know where the spaces are for an attack.

In college, I want to develop myself as a goalkeeper and as a person. I think I can still improve my goalkeeper skills and in college I want to be the best version of myself in the field. What I find most important in a school is that I can be myself. Academically, I hope I can find a study that totally fits who I am. I do not know yet in which state I want to study. I need a coach who is strict but fair. I like positive coaching and I hope a coach is honest with me when they think I can do something better.

Achievements in your sports

Last year and this year, I played in the highest league for girls under seventeen and girls under twenty. Two years ago I played with a girls’ team against boys. Last year, we played through the whole country and we ended in third place. I was also the goalkeeper in the competition who had the least goals against. I currently play soccer at UVVA and every year multiple girls transfer to the United States. The last two years I played with my team against different professional clubs: Excelsior Rotterdam, SC Heerenveen and ADO Den Haag. My team participated in different international tournaments, and we always ended at least in second place. Last year, I did my internship at FC Utrecht. There were only five goalkeepers left, but unfortunately, I did not make the team. During Easter 2024, my team has been invited to play a tournament in Newcastle. We are going to play against Newcastle United.