December 3, 2021

Rush Alum Meg Brandt, Pursuing Greater Heights

When Meg Brandt was in the fifth grade, her teacher asked students to write down what they wanted to be when they grew up. Meg scrawled down that she wanted to be a professional soccer player.

And years of hard work later, the Rush Soccer alum proved that goal was far more than a pipe dream.

“I had really big dreams for soccer,” Meg said. “So when I was with Iowa Rush, I wanted to play at the highest competitive level, and I told them that I wanted to play college soccer at the Division 1 level. And they were excited about helping me achieve that.”

Meg wound up at Nebraska, where she earned Big Ten All-Freshman team honors before eventually being selected to the Big Ten All-Tournament team her junior season.

“I committed at a young age,” she said, “and that kind of changes things. Some players get too satisfied. But I was like, ‘Okay, I’m committed. That was my goal.’ But Rush pushed me more after I committed, which I’m really thankful for because I knew I had a lot more work to do.”

By the time she finished her career there, Meg had received an invite to play for the U.S. Women’s U-23 team and had turned the heads of professional scouts.

Then Meg was drafted by the Seattle Reign in the fourth round of the 2020 NWSL draft but never played a game after the league decided to shut down in the early stages of the pandemic. Her rights were traded to Kansas City, but she realized that she still had a lot more work to do.

“I want to play in the U.S., but it wasn’t the right time for me,” Meg said. “I needed to get more experience professionally. So I decided that going overseas was the best option.”

Meg first went to Norway, playing there for three months before seeking out other opportunities in Europe that would better suit her. And she found that at MSV Duisburg in Germany, a second league women’s Bundesliga team.

“It’s a totally rebuilding process for us in the second Bundesliga,” Meg said. “We’re hoping to get promoted, which is the goal.”

Meg is also aiming to elevate her personal game in the process as she continues to develop even after reaching her goal of playing soccer professionally.

“I’ve always felt like I had a lot of room to improve,” Meg said. “And I still do. That’s why I’m doing this. I can’t see myself stopping to play soccer anytime soon. So, I’m really hoping within the next two to three years, I can be back in the U.S. playing and successful at the highest level.”

No matter what ultimately happens with Meg’s career, she credits Rush for helping prepare her for each step in the journey.

“I think that I was well prepared because of Rush,” Meg said. “They held us to a high standard, showing us how to be as professional as possible, for example on away trips. With Rush when we go to tournaments, like whether it was all the girls wearing the same clothes to travel in or stopping and stretching on the way to tournaments. We were also taught that if you’re on time, you’re late basically, so to be early to everything that carried over for me, and it’s taught me to be a lot more per professional.”

Hudl Flex User Guide

By Lucas Sampaio • October 10, 2024
Coastal Families, Hudl TV has been a fantastic addition to our game streaming this season. Below, you'll find links to the Hudl Flex User Guide to assist anyone responsible for setting up and recording with the Hudl Flex cameras. We also have a recorded video call from Hudl with our Coastal Rush players that covers some helpful topics. Be sure to check out these helpful tutorials and resources for Coaches, Team Managers, Athletes, and Parents: Athletes Guide to Hudl : Share this out with athletes and parents for a walk through of all things Hudl on the Athletes side of things Coaches/Managers Resource Guide : Share this out with coaches for a step by step walk through of the Hudl platform on the coaches/managers side of things Coastal Rush Hudl Fan Landing Page : Share this out with friends and family who can’t attend games in person and want to watch via livestream If you have any additional questions, please email Coach Kyle at kyle@coastalrush.com.

Coastal Rush Soccer Breaks Record with 57 Player College Commitments for Fall 2024

By Lucas Sampaio • June 24, 2024
[Pensacola, FL, June 24, 2024] - Coastal Rush Soccer, a soccer club within the largest youth soccer organization in the world, is celebrating a remarkable achievement with a record-breaking year of college commitments for Fall 2024. The National average for high school soccer players continuing their athletic journey in college stands at 7.5%, but Coastal Rush Soccer has surpassed expectations with an impressive 57 college commitments, which is 5x the national average. This outstanding success is directly attributed to Coastal Rush’s College Advisory Program (CAP). The announcement of 57 college commitments sets Coastal Rush Soccer apart as a leader in nurturing young soccer talent and providing them with opportunities to further their education while pursuing their sports dreams. The organization's commitment to developing well-rounded student-athletes has clearly paid off, with a significant number of players set to embark on their college soccer careers in the upcoming fall. Rush Soccer's College Advisory Program (CAP) has been a great resource in guiding players through the college recruitment process, ensuring that they are well-equipped to make informed decisions about their future. The local CAP offerings led by John Michael Guidroz, Felipe Lawall and Nick Cooper offer personalized support and expert advice, the CAP has empowered players to explore their options and find the best fit for their academic and athletic aspirations. "Our College Advisory Program (CAP) team is dedicated to empowering players through the college recruitment process. With a proven track record of exceeding the national average in college commitments by 5x times, CAP offers unparalleled support and guidance to families. No other club equips players for success quite like Rush Soccer. We are very proud of all of our athletes that will be attending college, for athletics and academic excellence,” said Josh Tyler, Global CAP Director for Rush Soccer. Kyle Sealy, Boys Director of Coastal Rush Soccer, adds, “By prioritizing academic excellence and holistic development, Coastal Rush has created a pathway for young athletes to pursue their passion for soccer while securing their future through higher education. We are very proud of each of our players for attacking the recruiting process head on and finding a fit for themselves academically as well as programs that fit their needs as individual players” Kenny Skinner, Girls Director of Coastal Rush Soccer, also adds, “We at the club would like to show our gratitude to all those who have helped the players find their fit at the next level. In addition to our local CAP directors we also have many great coaches and directors at the home club who have helped our student athletes. Also lastly, a big congratulations to all the players in making this next step!” As Coastal Rush Soccer continues to make a mark in the world of youth soccer development, the organization's emphasis on empowering student-athletes to achieve success both on and off the field remains at the core of its mission. With 57 college commitments for Fall 2024, Rush Soccer is setting a new standard for player development and college preparedness in the soccer community.

Coastal Rush Spring Update

By John Guidroz • March 22, 2024
Quick Spring Update 2024
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