By Matthew Rocco
The path to professional soccer was never easy for Erin Simon.
During her junior year at Red Bank Regional High School, Simon suffered an ACL injury that kept her off the field as a senior. The ordeal threatened to squash Simon’s odds of playing in college. But Syracuse University took a chance on her, and Simon thrived as an NCAA Division I recruit. Then, just months before graduating, Simon’s name was never called in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) draft in January.
It was simply one more obstacle for Simon to overcome. She was still determined to continue pursuing a soccer career. The defender attended tryouts for the Orlando Pride and Sky Blue FC, the hometown team based in Piscataway. Sky Blue extended an offer to join the club at preseason camp. Simon ultimately made the cut, even earning a starting spot as a rookie.
From Red Bank Regional to the pros, Simon’s perseverance has paid off.
“I think I’m way ahead of where I expected to be. I didn’t even expect to get a contract,” Simon said. “It’s been amazing. It’s really a blessing. I’m learning from the best players and coaches.”
Simon feels lucky to be one of the 200 players in the league, and she has made the most of her playing time. The Ocean Township resident has made an impression on the coaching staff, starting in 12 of Sky Blue’s first 14 games and playing the fifth-most minutes. In a recent 1-0 win over the Washington Spirit, Simon had the assist on the deciding goal in the 24th minute.
Looking back on her journey to Sky Blue, Simon hasn’t forgotten all the support she received from her family, coaches, teammates and training staff. Red Bank Regional’s athletic trainer, Christina Emrich, is one of her mentors, having helped Simon through a six-month rehab after ACL surgery.
“She listened to all my moaning and groaning when I was rehabbing, but she told me I would come out of it as a better player and person. I owe her and my family a lot,” Simon said, adding that she learned to appreciate the game a lot more while recovering from the injury.
Not only did Simon miss being on the field for the Buccaneers, but the injury also meant college recruiters had no way of evaluating her as a player. Simon’s coaches, including Robert Angus, her club team’s coach, stepped in to speak on her behalf. Angus promised Syracuse head coach Phil Wheddon that Simon is the kind of player that would change his team. When Simon was nearing the end of her tenure with Syracuse, Red Bank Regional soccer coach Sean Reid helped make introductions to the staff at Sky Blue. Simon became one of only three undrafted players to get a contract for the 2016 season.
Simon never could have imagined that after missing her senior season at Red Bank Regional, she would eventually be on the same field as soccer greats like Christie Rampone and Hope Solo.
“I didn’t even think I would play Division I soccer,” Simon said. “But once I got to college, I realized I wanted to pursue soccer professionally.”
Simon said she continues to improve as a player with the help of her Sky Blue teammates and head coach Christy Holly. Simon is playing alongside some household names like Sky Blue’s Rampone, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion with the U.S. national team.
Sky Blue, which plays its home games at Rutgers University’s Yurcak Field, is ranked fifth out of 10 teams in the NWSL standings with a 6-5-4 record.
Simon hopes to stay close to the field for a long time. Emrich inspired Simon to consider a future career in athletic training, and Simon graduated Syracuse with a degree in exercise science. As part of her studies, she interned under Emrich at Red Bank Regional.
“I saw how involved she was in sports, even though not in a playing sense. I grew closer to that when I was injured,” said Simon, who hopes to complete a master’s degree in athletic training on her way to a second career.
Through the ups and downs of her playing career, Simon could always count on her family’s support.
“I’m really blessed to have my family and friends at my side, especially my parents and my brother,” she said.