The senior midfielder and psychology major hopes to continue helping athletes like herself after her playing career is over.
Ansley Crenshaw dreams of giving back to athletes who face the same challenges as herself.
What started as a casual interest in soccer quickly turned into a lifestyle for the Georgia Southern women’s soccer senior. Crenshaw’s soccer career not only shaped her as the woman she is today, but also shaped the career path she plans to pursue.
Crenshaw decided to get involved in the sport at age 6 after one of his friends started playing soccer. The senior midfielder quickly discovered a love for the sport and began taking steps to improve as an athlete on the field.
The Eagles midfielder spent his high school years traveling between Hardeeville, South Carolina, Hilton Head Island and Jacksonville, Florida to train, play and practice. “It was very confusing because I lived in Savannah, but it was the best thing for me,” Crenshaw said.
The decision to continue playing soccer in college was a natural one for Crenshaw. “It felt like it was a dream I always had as a kid, so it was easy,” Crenshaw said. She spent her freshman year of college at Palm Beach Atlantic University before transferring to Georgia Southern University.
Crenshaw comes from an Eagles family, with his parents and younger brother attending Georgia Southern University, so the transfer to Statesboro made sense. “It felt like a home away from home. The girls on the team are my best friends. It’s just like family,” Crenshaw said.
Crenshaw holds his family close to his heart and when times are tough he turns to his father, Jason Crenshaw. “He pushes me to the maximum and he’s very competitive, but I’m very grateful to him. He’s made me the player I am,” Crenshaw said. said.
Crenshaw has struggled with confidence on the field throughout his football career. “I learned that you always have to be your own worst critic and use that as motivation to push yourself harder,” she said. Crenshaw has struggled with maintaining a healthy mental state throughout his athletic career and wants to help other athletes facing similar struggles.
The Eagles senior is majoring in psychology and plans to go into sports psychology to help athletes facing mental health issues. “I know I went through it and struggled, but now the girls can rely on me to help them get through it and grow,” Crenshaw said.
Crenshaw’s hard work and grit showed on the field. In 2023, the Eagles midfielder played in all 19 games as a junior, starting 15 and scoring two goals. She has started all 13 games this season and ranks second on the team with 1,099 minutes played. But the end is far from over for Crenshaw. “We have eight games left, so we want to go to the Sun Belt Tournament and win the Sun Belt,” Crenshaw said.
Her future is still up in the air as she has not yet decided whether she will continue playing soccer after college. But Crenshaw knows either way, and while he wants to get a master’s degree and pursue sports psychology, he hasn’t decided yet if he’s ready to lace up his cleats.
