As can be expected from any typical freshman, Erin Bilyeu continues to make the massive amount of adjustments from high school to college life.
However, one thing certainly separates her from the regular pack of first-year students: Erin must balance academics and a new lifestyle with being the starting goalkeeper for the ETSU soccer team.
As can be expected, Erin was “really excited” when told she was going to be the main player in net for the Buccaneers.
“I was pushing all through preseason to get here,” Bilyeu said. “The sophomore goalie, Carrie Hill, and I are still in competition for the starting job, and it’s making both of us a lot better.”
Bilyeu has saved twenty-seven shots, through five games played. She is expected to split playing time with Hill until one proves dominant over the other.
Despite the team’s overall record (3-6, 0-2 A-Sun), it can be discerned from various team statistics that ETSU is fighting hard, striving closer to their objective of winning with the passing of each game.
“I know we are about to bust out of a big bubble and accomplish great things this year,” Bilyeu said. “Our stats show we’re getting lots of shots on goal and corner kicks. Every single team we’ve played against, we could have beaten. We’re definitely going to the conference tournament.”
While she acknowledges that there is a lot going on in her life right now, Bilyeu described a few ways she is becoming comfortable with the complex life of a student athlete.
“We have study hall, along with two hours of required studying on road trips. With 19 teammates, there’s always at least one who can help me with classes since they’ve already taken them,” Bilyeu said.
Most former high school athletes know there are many differences between their varsity team and intercollegiate sports, but Bilyeu possesses fresh first-hand knowledge on the subject.
“It’s a totally different level,” she said. “The training and aggression parts of it are higher, and you cannot miss a practice. Every single team we play is really good; you have to give it your all for every one of them.
“I think it’s awesome. I trained all through club soccer to get up to this level. I’m getting to travel and experience more than regular students, and I have a new family within this team.”
One of the key pieces of success involved with being a goalkeeper in soccer is learning the individual tendencies of fellow defenders.
When asked about possible improvements to her game, Bilyeu spoke of her goal to gain the complete confidence of those particular teammates.
“Having a junior and senior defense, I need to become more vocal and gain more trust,” Bilyeu said. “I want to show that I am capable of covering everything back there, and being a good goalkeeper.”
Besides staying busy on the athletic field, Bilyeu recently declared nutrition as her major. Playing college soccer seems to be an outstanding fit for her when considering her future occupation.
“I want to work with athletes and nutrition, possibly becoming a dietitian working with things like meal plans,” she said. “I’m very interested in the way food affects the body, and ways to keep it healthy.”
In their first Atlantic Sun Conference game of the year, ETSU came out on the losing end against Jacksonville with a score of 2-1. Successfully executing a penalty kick, senior Erin Ashton continued her stellar year with her fifth goal.
On Sept. 25, the Buccaneers faced off against the University of North Florida. The Bucs were defeated by the Ospreys 2-1, with Emily Fulcher scoring a goal in the effort. Bilyeu recorded seven saves.
For their next home contest, ETSU faces off against Mercer on Sept. 29, their third straight game playing a conference rival.

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