From being a childhood multi-sport player to committing as a college athlete, Josie Hau (’26) has achieved what many dream of. Following a successful high school career, Hau is now committed to Denison University for soccer. 

For Hau, soccer wasn’t always her primary sport. As a child, she played nearly every Vienna Youth Incorporated (VYI) sport, but narrowed down her focus to the sports her siblings played: lacrosse and swimming. 

“My older siblings had their own sports, but because I was the youngest, I did their sports in addition to my own sport, soccer,” Hau said. 

After narrowing down her focus, Hau discovered the goalie position in which she thrived. Her youth soccer coach required players to rotate who played goalie each game, and when it was Hau’s turn, she was hooked. 

“I’d seen videos of professional goalies online, but I didn’t realize how fun it would be until I tried it myself,” Hau said. “I liked how different it was from other positions in soccer.”

With her club team, Fairfax Virginia Union, Hau practices three times a week and plays games on the weekends, and is pushed to be a better player.

“The club soccer community is very special to me,” Hau said. “I’ve created lifelong friendships with girls from different schools, which is something I’ll value forever.” 

The college recruitment process can be daunting for athletes, but Hau had a plan. Again, she took after her siblings who currently attend small colleges, and prioritized small schools during her search. Also, keeping post-grad life in mind, Hau wanted to attend a school that would prepare her for a career in physical therapy. Denison University checked all of those boxes, including a more specific one. 

“It had to look pretty, and I had to actually want to go there,” Hau said. “One of my requirements was that it had to have a body of water on campus.”

During the beginning of her sophomore year of high school, Hau emailed Denison coaches for the first time. After watching her games at showcase events, assistant coach Paul Wise called her and asked her to visit for a talent identification camp. Following that, head coach Sarah Brink offered her a spot. 

“The recruiting process took a lot of work, but I’m grateful it paid off in the end,” Hau said. 

Many high school athletes work tirelessly to continue their athletic careers in college. Hau encourages those athletes to email coaches diligently to earn offers.

“Start early, work hard, and even if it seems like nothing is going right, keep working,” Hau said.