DUBOIS, Pa. (EYT) – Being one of five kids, calling dibs is nothing new for Emily Gracea.
Except calling dibs this time is a bit different.
She’s calling it on not the front seat, the last piece of pizza, or even the first shower in the morning.
She’s calling it as the first soccer player in the history of the DuBois Area School District to earn a Division I soccer scholarship.
“I hope some other small town little girl or boy can see me and use it as motivation,” said the Pitt Panthers women’s soccer signee. “It’s not going to be something that just happens one day (being a Division I athlete). You will need to give up some things along the way to get there, but if it is truly your dream, you can do it. It doesn’t matter where you’re from or where you went to school.”
Gracea started playing soccer around the age of five and started in leagues around the DuBois area. She grew up watching her older twin brothers Alex and Nick compete and couldn’t wait for her first time being able to hit the pitch. She continued playing in local leagues and with local travel teams until the seventh grade. She was ready to commit herself to seeking the best competition in the region and push herself to be a college player.
The first club she joined outside of the immediate area was with the PA West Olympic Development Program (ODP) twice per week. She took part in these training programs for around two years before shifting her focus to playing with Steel City Football Club (Steel City FC) and the Pittsburgh Hotspurs to end her club soccer career. She was a two-year captain for her club program and was an instrumental defensive player for a team that won back-to-back state cup championships and went on to compete at the national stage.
“I was blessed with some amazing coaches in these organizations as well as parents who invested the time to make this dream a reality,” noted Gracea. “I think one thing that’s helped me as a player from the coaches I’ve had is going into practice with the idea of knowing what I’m going to try to work on and to set goals for the day each time. It’s something I started doing with my dad (Dr. Steven Graeca). We’d make goals before practice and review the progress in the car rides home. As I got older, I made sure to also be a leader and encouraging to young players.”
Photos courtesy Pitt Athletics.
Gracea was coached by her father for almost her entire life aside from her club career. He was her first coach in youth soccer and then served as her varsity coach for her four-year standout career for the DuBois Lady Beavers. This season, Emily was also joined on the team by her younger sister Lauren and the Graeca trio made the most of their time as a part of the same team. “High school season was more fun than club at some points because there was less pressure and I loved to be able to play alongside my lifelong friends and sister. I also played offense in high school, which is not something I will be doing at Pitt. It’s probably cliche, but I’m going to miss those little moments like bus rides and team meals with my high school team.”
Gracea completed her high school career this fall as the program record holder in assists, career points, goals in a season, assists in a season, goals in a game, and points in a game. While most of these statistics suggest she’s a primary offensive player, she’s a center back and outside back primarily and is slated to play defense at the college level. She played defense for her club team for several years and is ready to commit fully to the defensive side moving forward. This commitment starts this month as Gracea graduated in December to become an early enrollee at Pitt beginning in the Spring 2024 term. “The school has been so supportive of me graduating early,” she noted. “It’s not easy to graduate early, but everyone at DuBois was so supportive. My whole career they would ask me how I was doing in soccer and how our games went. I was one of the first to ever graduate in December from DuBois, and I am thankful for those who helped make this possible.”
Becoming an early enrollee was a decision she committed to during her junior year of high school. It allowed her to begin her college level training earlier and also spread out her course loads throughout an extra semester of school. The training and competition schedule of many Division I athletes is packed and oftentimes results in student-athletes choosing to complete high school a half-year early and take classes during the summer months. Playing in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) can especially make in-season coursework difficult as this conference’s geography spans from Massachusetts to Florida; making travel time significant for student athletes.
The former Lady Beaver is joining one of the top women’s soccer programs in the country this year as the Pitt Panthers advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division Women’s Soccer Championships. The program finished with a record of 17-6-1 overall and 6-2-1 in ACC play. But playing for a winning program was only part of the reason she chose to become a Panther. “The program is great and is on the rise. I’ve thought about playing at Pitt since my freshman year of high school. Their coaching staff, the city campus, and the people around the program made it feel so special. Pitt also has great academics and is close to home. There’s a lot to do around Pitt and I can’t wait to get started here.”
Photos courtesy Pitt Athletics.
Gracea intends to complete a degree in education and also plans to coach once her playing days conclude. She’s already begun her coaching days hosting camps alongside her brother Nick who is a player for John Carroll University in the Cleveland area. The duo has welcomed youth players for skill development training and this was a critical reinforcement that working with children and staying involved in soccer past her own playing career would make for a fulfilling next chapter.
It’s been far from easy to become a Power 5 conference women’s soccer player for Emily Gracea. The constant drives to Pittsburgh and traveling around the nation led to this special moment for not just her, but her community. She credits her entire family and especially her parents Jennifer and Steven for all the sacrifices they made to help her reach this chapter in life. She’s also grateful for her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for his constant love. “I’ve leaned on my faith in Jesus and am grateful for his love and support along with the support I’ve had from so many along the way. But I know that everything that comes my way is all a part of God’s plan for me.”
If she can inspire another young person along the way to get to the highest stage in college soccer like she’s at now, that will be the ultimate moment for her. But for now, she is looking forward to settling in for a new beginning herself. “I would tell anyone who has the same goals as I had to slow down and enjoy the process. Enjoy every moment and soak in the memories with teammates and coaches along the way. These days are some of the best days of your life. Try to make the most of all the opportunities that you will have,” she said.
Copyright © 2024 EYT Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Any copying, redistribution or retransmission of the contents of this service without the express written consent of EYT Media Group, Inc. is expressly prohibited.
