Athlete Profile

Writing

Apr. 18, 2022

Originially published at utrockets.com, April 8, 2022

TOLEDO, Ohio - Most student-athletes enter their college experience with lofty ambitions of success in their sport. Claire Cahalan was no different in that regard, but when she first came to The University of Toledo to play soccer in 2017, she also had her eyes on another goal.

Cahalan, who completed her final collegiate season last fall, graduated with a bachelor's degree from the College of Business in December of 2021. She now has her sights set on attending law school.

"I chose business because it's a great undergrad degree to prepare for law school," said Cahalan. "It was the one that went best with law school, and that was really my passion."

While Cahalan's interest in law is relatively recent, her devotion for soccer began at a young age. She watched her sister, Shannon, play soccer when she was four years old and decided to try it out for herself. She ended up falling in love with the sport.

Soccer went from a mere interest to a passion when Cahalan's family moved to Brazil. She was in sixth grade when her father's job took her to the soccer-mad county. At first, Cahalan was apprehensive about the move.

"I was very upset about it but my dad promised to make sure I'd be able to play soccer in Brazil," said Cahalan. "He found me a very high-level team and I got to play with a lot of girls who actually are now on the national team in Brazil."

In Brazil, Cahalan was able to learn more about soccer. She became immersed in the sport and learned a more technical Brazilian style of soccer that isn't typically taught in America. She also learned about the low pecking order of women's sports in South America.

"They just don't treat the women's sports the same way as men's sports in Brazil," said Cahalan. "I realized how grateful that I was that the U.S. did, and that I was able to have the opportunity to play college soccer here."

A major highlight in Cahalan's life in Brazil came when two members of the 1991 U.S. Women's National Team visited a soccer camp that she was attending. Cahalan was able to meet World Cup champions Julie Foudy and Brandi Chastain, two of her biggest inspirations on the pitch. It helped to affirm one of her life's goals.

"That was one of the biggest things for me. It helped me know that I wanted to keep doing this, that I want to play in college," said Cahalan.

After three years in Brazil, the Cahalan family returned to the Ann Arbor area for Claire's high school years. With the idea in mind that she wanted to play soccer at the next level, she stepped her game up. She blended the creativity and technicality that she learned in Brazil with the traditional Midwest American style to create her own style. That unique approach, along with her strong work ethic, grabbed the attention of college coaches, including Toledo Head Coach TJ Buchholz.

"That was one of the things when we first saw her. There was something different about the way she played, to the point where it's not what you would normally see in the States," said Buchholz. "It definitely set her apart. They didn't quite play the game the way she did, which was cool and intriguing to us. I think it absolutely helped her be successful and adapting herself to having that technical ability, as well as having that grit that you see in a lot of American midfielders. I think that blend really helped her be successful at the next level."

Cahalan was one of the first players to commit to Buchholz's program. In her five years with the Rockets, the midfielder became one of the cornerstones of the program.

"I think the team was inspired by how hard she played on the field and the ground she covered," said Buchholz. "She pretty much played, if not all the minutes, then 90 percent of every game. That just shows you what kind of a person and player she is on and off the field. She's funny and has a great personality. She just has a really great charm about her that you enjoy coaching."

Buchholz added that he hopes to keep Cahalan involved in the program now that her playing days are done.

"We hope we continue to see her on a regular basis. Some players are from Ann Arbor or Toledo, and some are from California, and you don't always get to see those people. But she's someone you always want to keep in touch with because she had such a huge impact on the program."

Now, with her playing days behind her, Cahalan has her eyes set on a law degree. She has not selected a law school yet, but her goal is to be a sports lawyer and help athletes. Buchholz thinks that lofty aspiration is well within her reach.

"I think she'd be great at that," said Buchholz. "I think what she brought to the game, how she played and her personality lends itself to that. She's smart and quick-witted, things you have to be as a lawyer. She's competitive too, so she can take that from the soccer area and bring that to the legal area and the sports world."