Yaple shines in the Big Apple

by Matthew Ondesko: Managing Editor

When a student-athlete comes close to the end of their college career a sense of fear sets it. The fear is more of the unknown. The unknown of what comes next after playing sports for their entire life.

They aren’t sure what they want to do next. Do they want to use their degree and start the second chapter of their life? Or, do they want to maybe pursue other avenues in their sport?

As a female soccer player, there wasn’t a lot of options to continue a career after college. There was always trying to play overseas, but the pay, and conditions, might not have been up to par. Sure, it was a chance to keep playing, but at what cost.

As time has gone on, women’s soccer has taken off more and more, especially here in the United States. The success of the women’s national team has opened doors that might not have been opened before.

The NWSL has been a success and launched a lot of careers for women who play the sport. It also has opened the door for other leagues, like the USL Super League. The USL Super League is a professional women’s soccer league that kicked of this past August.

Built for the future of women’s soccer, the USL Super League has committed to U.S. Soccer’s Division One standards, reflecting its collective vision to be a global leader on and off the field while providing more opportunities for more women in more communities.

This new league allows those players to have an opportunity to continue their soccer career against some of the best players in the world. One person who is taking full advantage of still playing the game she loves in Brooklyn’s Emily Yaple.

Yaple had an outstanding college career. First at the University of Pittsburg (in the ACC) before transferring to the University of Florida to obtain her master’s and play for the Gators.

“I’m incredibly grateful for how my college soccer career has shaped me—not just as a player, but as a person. I spent the first three and half years at the University of Pittsburgh, where coaches Randy Waldrum, Ben Waldrum and Jesse Goleman played a huge role in developing me into the player I am today,” stated Yaple. “After completing my undergraduate degree, I decided to pursue my master’s at a different school in a new conference. The University of Florida pushed me in ways I hadn’t expected, testing my love for the game as I battled through my first serious injury and adapted to a more physical, athletic style of soccer. While that experience was challenging, it was exactly what I needed to grow and take my game to the next level.”

After finishing her degree this past May, Yaple had a decision to make. Yaple was good enough to play at the next level. If anyone saw her play in college, and the highlight real goal she scored while at Florida, you could tell the sky was limit.

As the spring ended, Yaple met her agent and that’s when things started to be put into gear. She was going over her options, and leagues, when she felt Brooklyn FC was the right place for her.

“In the spring of 2024, after parting ways with Florida, I met my agent, Eric Arbuzow. From our very first conversation, I knew he was the right person to represent me and help secure my first professional contract,” stated Yaple. “Over time, we discussed various leagues and clubs as potential options, ultimately deciding that Brooklyn would be the best fit for me.”

This was her first professional contact in a league that plays an exciting brand of soccer. It was also her first time in the city. Sure she went there in high school for a few days, but nothing compares to living in New York City.

While Pittsburg is a big city, nothing compares to the bright lights off New York City, and playing for a team in Brooklyn.

“Before moving to the city, I had no idea what to expect. I visited Manhattan for a couple of days with a friend during my freshman year of high school, but I’d never spent much time here,” stated Yaple. “I also lived in Pittsburgh for three and half years, but everyone told me it was unrealistic to compare Pittsburgh to New York—and they were right! There really are no words to describe what it's like to live here. It’s a vibrant melting pot of amazing people, incredible food, and, of course, a ton of soccer fans.”

While she signed up to play for Brooklyn FC, Yaple still had to prove herself on the pitch. An attacking midfielder her entire career, Yaple was going o learn a new position once she stepped foot in Brooklyn.

She went from midfield to left wing. Yaple is becoming for comfortable with the position change as the season has gone on. It has allowed her to step out of her comfort zone a little bit as well.

Learning a different position has been one thing, learning the progressional game has been another. In college you could get away with a mistake more than at the professional level. The margin for error at this level is very small compared to college.

“There are definitely some significant differences between the college game and the professional level. As expected, the overall level is higher, and the margin for error is minimal,” stated Yapple. “On a personal note, I've been playing in a position I’ve never had experience with before. In college, I was consistently a center attacking midfielder, but here at Brooklyn, the coaching staff has been using me as a left winger. While I’m gradually becoming more comfortable in that role, it was completely out of my comfort zone at first.”

The hard work since the summer has been off for Yaple as she made her professional debut against Spokane. It was a surreal moment for Yaple as she sat in the locker room before the game.

As she started to get ready Yaple reflected on her soccer journey. A journey that started with youth soccer, to high school, to college to finally putting the jersey on for her professional debut.

“My first start with Brooklyn FC came in our season opener against Spokane in Washington. It was not only my first start, but also my first minutes as a professional,” stated Yaple. “I remember sitting in the locker room before the game, feeling emotional as I reflected on my journey—both my college career and my youth soccer days—and the time and effort I’d put in to reach that exact moment.”

While Yaple is contributing night in and night out, she still is a rookie. She is out there with some women who have played in five different countries, and some that have been called up to play for their national team.

It’s an eye opening experience and one that Yaple doesn’t take for grant it. As Yaple has said the pen is in your hand. She still has so much to learn about the game, and has great teammates she can lean on and learn from.

“It’s incredible to see some of the players I’ve competed against this season getting called into national team camps to represent their countries. One of my teammates, Salma Amani, has represented Morocco multiple times, and I’ve learned so much from her in training,” stated Yaple. “As a rookie, one of the coolest things is realizing how much there is to learn. The pen is in your hand, and I’m fortunate to be surrounded by teammates who bring so much experience and knowledge. Some of my teammates have played in over five different countries and they’re more than willing to share their insights, which has been invaluable to my growth as a player.”

As the season gets ready to hit its winter break, last game is Dec. 14 before starting up again in February, Yaple has set goals for herself. Always willing to learn, Yaple wants to make sure she had made improvements in her game from the time she started in the summer, until the season ends.

Of course, she wants to make sure Brooklyn FC wins a championship come June.

“During my first phone call with our head coach, Jess, well before the season began, I told her that my goal was to walk away at the end of the season as a better player than when I started,” stated Yaple. “So, by June, if I’ve made noticeable improvements in key areas of my game, I’ve successfully completed my goal. (And a USL championship ring on my finger of course.)”