« DI Women’s Soccer 2012

Clare Stachel

School
Michigan
Position
Midfielder/Forward
Major
English and American Culture

Classroom

Stachel is an excellent student, twice being named an Academic All-Big Ten selection, and earning the U-M Athletic Academic Achievement Award three times. She is an English and American Culture major here at U-M. She is involved with our athletic department’s video staff, occasionally appearing on camera to do interviews and other fun vignettes. With her interest in pursuing a career within sports and video production, Stachel interned with ESPN: Los Angeles studios the summer of 2012.

Character

Stachel is the clear vocal and motivational leader of the University of Michigan women’s soccer team. She is only the second person in program history to be named team captain three times during her playing career, which illustrates how much her teammates value her leadership and character. Stachel started every game as a freshman, but suffered a season-ending injury prior to her sophomore season, causing her to redshirt and sit out the season. She came back the following year and once again started every match, displaying how important she is to this team. Since last July, Clare has also served as a representative on the U-M (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Board, where she has represented the student-athlete body and act as a voice to a board of athletic administrators. She’s also spent two-plus years as a captain for Athletes in Action, leading weekly studies and acting as a mentor for various female student-athletes.

Community

Stachel is extremely active in the community, both in Ann Arbor and at the university. She has spent the last two spring breaks volunteering with Athletes in Action, going to Orlando during her junior year and Los Angeles during her senior year. Some of her responsibilities included sorting clothes at a homeless shelter, playing with kids at an after school care center (both Orlando), and volunteering at an after school care center for children who lived in the mission on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles. She’s also made several visits to the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital here at the University of Michigan, coached youth soccer on Saturdays in nearby Ypsilanti, wrapped presents during the holidays (for Operation Santa Clause), and K-Day. Additionally, Clare founded and supervised the U-M Student-Athlete Clothing Drive in January 2011, designed to support disadvantaged Detroit adults and children.

Competition

The University of Michigan soccer team has engineered a turnaround with Stachel on the roster. Michigan increased its win total each of the first three years Stachel was on the roster, going from four wins in 2008 to six in 2009 and 10 in 2010, before winning nine in 2011. Also, Michigan made the NCAA Tournament in 2010 in what was its first appearance since the 2006 season. Despite missing a season due to injury, Stachel has started every match entering her fifth-year season (57/57), scoring 10 career goals as a midfielder and forward. She earned her first All-Big Ten selection last season as a redshirt junior (named to second team), and was also named an All-American Athlete of the Year by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Stachel was also a member of the U.S. U-18 National Team in 2008.