PASSION AND INTENSITY

“The moments before kickoff, it feels like stage fright or butterflies. The game itself is so competitive, and everyone’s on edge, and then when we score or make a big play … it’s indescribable,” says recent Lake Forest High School (LFHS) graduate, Bridget Mitchell. Her passion for the game of soccer is palpable on the field, and when she talks about it, one feels the electricity in her words. It is Mitchell’s speed and extraordinary skills, however, that have caught the eyes of recruiters since she was an 8th grade student at Deer Path Middle School.

SUCCESS AND HARDSHIP

Mitchell is the definition of a well-rounded person. Academically driven and athletically gifted with a natural inclination for leadership, she brings people together with ease. It is easy to observe her successes and assume she is practically perfect by nature, but that is not true. The soon to be Northwestern Wildcat has faced challenges that, for many, would be daunting. And she’s done so with both grit and grace.

Devastating ACL tears prevented Mitchell from competing two of her four high school years, threatening her career before it could take flight. Rather than spiraling into self-pity while nursing her injuries, she chose to become team manager for the LFHS Varsity soccer team, fulfilling this role during her injuryladen freshman and senior years. It was an immense responsibility, but Mitchell thrived through the work and was able to support her friends. She has always placed team above self. “The team aspect is the best aspect of soccer,” she states. “Competing together and pushing each other to be better … my favorite moments are those when you know that you and your teammates have worked so hard and collectively it pays off.”

THE PATH TO MARTIN STADIUM

Mitchell started playing soccer when she was 4-years-old, progressing from recreational league AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization) to LFSA (Lake Forest Soccer Association). “I was a swimmer and a soccer player, and competed in both sports until 8th grade. At that point, I quit swimming because I had to focus on soccer and only soccer. I knew that’s what it would take to play in a competitive college league like the Big Ten,” she says. Her decision paid off: Northwestern started looking at Mitchell during her 8th grade year. Sophomore year she upped the intensity and began to play for the prestigious FC United Soccer Club. And finally, in a plot twist her senior year, Mitchell pivoted to play for rival club, Eclipse.

But back to Northwestern. Mitchell began communicating with the soccer department personally during her freshman year at LFHS. After her first ACL tear in December of that year, she was able to fully recover and the Big Ten school continued to show interest. By sophomore year, Mitchell verbally committed to play, accepting their scholarship offer. Senior year then brought a wild ride of lows and highs. The second of her ACL tears occurred in November, necessitating surgery. Despite the injury, six days post-surgery, she signed a letter of intent while hobbling on crutches and wearing a giant knee brace. She was officially a Wildcat.

The future is bright for Mitchell. Wise beyond her years, she looks forward to stepping onto the lakeside field in Northwestern’s Martin Stadium this summer. Looking both backward and forward, she notes, “When it feels like serendipity or stars aligning on the field, you know in actuality it’s the result of years of hard work and team building.”