Our daughter, Kylie Alvarez, will begin her Division I soccer career at UTEP in the fall of 2026. Seeing her achieve that goal has been incredibly rewarding, but the journey to get there was anything but simple.
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Growing up in El Paso, we quickly realized that many of the opportunities available to players in larger soccer markets simply didn't exist in our backyard. When Kylie earned a spot with FC Dallas ECNL RL NTX and later FC Dallas ECNL RL, our family committed to doing whatever it took to support her dream.

For four years, that meant driving nearly 600 miles from El Paso to Dallas for games. Most weekends were spent on the road. We missed family gatherings, birthdays, and countless normal weekends. We spent long hours in the car, countless nights in hotels, and made financial sacrifices that many families can relate to.
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In 2023, Kylie had the opportunity to join the FC Dallas ECNL team. While we were honored by the opportunity, relocating to the Dallas area was not realistic for our family. Instead, Kylie stayed in El Paso and took ownership of her development. She trained locally during the week, worked with a strength and conditioning coach, traveled for competition, and learned how to navigate the recruiting process herself.
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Along the way, she earned multiple college opportunities and ultimately found the right fit at UTEP.
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What we learned through that experience is that recruiting is about much more than talent.
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It requires understanding the landscape. It requires making informed decisions about clubs, competition, exposure, communication, academics, and timing. For families outside major recruiting markets, it often requires even more initiative and planning.
There were many times when we wished someone could simply explain how everything worked.
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That's why I created GolGetr.
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GolGetr exists to help families better understand the college soccer recruiting process. The goal is not to sell shortcuts or guarantees. The goal is to provide education, tools, and guidance so families can make informed decisions and build a plan that fits their situation.
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Every player's journey is different. Some live in major soccer markets. Others come from smaller communities like ours. Some will play ECNL or GA. Others will find different pathways to college soccer.
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What matters most is having a plan, understanding your options, and taking consistent action over time.
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Whether you're just beginning the process or already deep into your recruiting journey, I hope the lessons our family learned can help make your path a little clearer.
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Because at the end of the day, a goal getter isn't someone who simply has big dreams. It's someone willing to do the work, overcome obstacles, and keep moving forward when the path isn't easy.
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That's the spirit behind GolGetr, and it's the reason we're here.
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Armando Alvarez
Founder, GolGetr