Wednesday marked the end of a long process for Gloucester soccer standout Clare Pleuler.
Pleuler, a senior captain on this fall's Division 2 North semifinalist Gloucester girls soccer team, has been heavily recruited by colleges since the end of her freshman season. On Wednesday the recruiting process came to an end as she officially signed her letter of intent to attend Boston University next fall and play for the Division 1 soccer team.
Although Pleuler verbally committed to BU last March, it became official Wednesday and she is glad to see the long and drawnout process come to an end.
"This kind of marks the end of the whole process," Pleuler said. "It's been a long process so it's nice to have it finished."
Pleuler, one of the top girls soccer players to ever play at Gloucester, was wildly recruited by several Division 1 soccer programs. In addition to Boston University, George Washington, University or Rhode Island and the University of Hartford were all after the star midfielder. During her junior year Pleuler narrowed it down to Boston University and George Washington, a decision that she says was very difficult.
"It was a tough decision because I liked both schools but I think BU is the perfect fit for me athletically, academically and socially," Pleuler said. "I'm interested in physical therapy and BU has a great program for that which I am really excited about. I also wanted to stay close to home and I really liked the team. Those factors did it for me."
In Pleuler, the Terriers are getting a versatile soccer player with a boat load of high school accolades. In four years Pleuler was a Northeastern Conference All Star four times and was also named to the All State team. This fall she captained Gloucester to its best season ever, a 13-6-1 record and a trip to the Division 2 North semi-final, where they fell to top seeded and eventual sectional champion Newburyport 1-0.
As expected Pleuler came up big in the tournament picking up an assist on teammate Kali Cook's overtime game winner in the Division 2 North first round against Swampscott. She also converted a penalty kick during the shootout portion of Gloucester's 2-1 win over Dracut in the Division 2 North Quarterfinal in what was one of the best games of the school year so far regardless of sport.
Signing with Boston University is a perfect way to end her high school athletic career according to Pleuler.
"It was definitely a great way to end my high school soccer career," Pleuler said. "We had an awesome season and now I'm signing a letter of intent. It tops last season when we had a great year and I verbally committed to BU."
This season Pleuler also showed off her versatility, something that will really help her at the next level. Primarily an offensive minded midfielder, Pleuler was called upon to help the team as its sweeper, the last line of defense. The job took a little getting used to for the senior captain as she is used to scoring and setting up goals, but she thrived immediately and even enjoyed the new role as she got settled in.
"(Moving to sweeper) was definitely tough at first because I'm an offensive minded player," Pleuler said. "But as I stepped back and started to play with more of a defensive mindset and got used to the position I ended up liking the role."
Pleuler says she will play wherever she is needed at BU, but thinks she will end up in the midfield as that was the position she was recruited to play.
This summer Pleuler will prepare for Boston University by playing on the Aztecs U-23 team of the WPSL, one of the larges women's soccer leagues in the nation. Pleuler says she is nervous about taking the next step but at the same time excited.
"It's a really big step and I'm definitely nervous but excited at the same time," Pleuler said. "Personally I like challenges and this is going to be full of challenges. But this is not just an individual accomplishment. I could not have done it without my teammates, coaches, teachers and family, a lot of people have helped me along the way."
