Big Dreams Can Rise From Small Towns: Rutgers D1 Soccer Player Allie Post’s Full-Circle Journey

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ — Did you know Allie Post, one of Mountainside’s own, will appear in the upcoming Netflix film 99ers, centered on the legendary 1999 U.S. Women’s World Cup team? The project tells the story of a championship run that helped challenge long-standing perceptions of women’s sports while creating a lasting legacy for future generations of female athletes. For a young woman who once dreamed on local fields, being a part of the story of the team that changed women’s soccer carries special meaning.While appearing in a major film is exciting, it may not be the most impressive part of Post’s story.The real story begins much earlier — on local fields, in family carpools, through early morning workouts, missed family time during summers, team friendships, and the small-town support system that helped shape a young woman known as much for leadership and character as athletic success.A proud daughter of Mountainside, Post became a captain for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights women's soccer while balancing academics, high-level competition, and the pressure that comes with Division I athletics. She also earned an Academic All-Big Ten honors and the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.But ask Post what mattered most, and the conversation quickly returns to home.Mountainside RootsWhen asked what people should know about Mountainside, Post did not talk first about geography or size.She talked about people. Post expressed. “It’s a community-based town. Because it’s a small town, everyone knows everyone, and it creates a strong support system.”That kind of environment can shape a young person in ways that are hard to quantify.In towns like Mountainside, children grow up surrounded by familiar faces, coaches who care, neighbors who notice, teachers who encourage, and friendships that often begin early and last for years.For Post, that foundation created confidence and connection before she ever stepped onto a college field.She also remembers the influence of family. Her grandfather encouraged her athletic drive from a young age, challenging her with sprints and helping nurture the competitive spark that would later define her climb.When asked to describe Mountainside in one word, Post did not hesitate.“Home.” She said no matter where life takes her — even as she prepares for a move overseas this fall — Mountainside will always be the place she returns to emotionally and personally.Young Athlete JourneyLong before Rutgers, Post was simply a kid who loved sports.She played multiple sports growing up and continued to play basketball throughout high school. That broad athletic background, she believes, made her a stronger soccer player.“Playing basketball definitely made me a better soccer player,” she said, pointing to agility, movement, jumping ability, and competitiveness.Her advice is especially relevant for parents navigating youth sports today.Post believes playing a variety of sports seasonally helps reduce injury risk, build different muscle responses and skills; and importantly, widens social circles, which keeps sports enjoyable.That joy matters. Because before sports become scholarships, titles, or pressure, first should come the love of the game.She also offered encouragement and sage advice to budding young athletes who may feel discouraged because they are not the best player (yet!) on the field.“If you’re surrounded by players that are better than you, that’s a positive,” Post said. “It gives you the opportunity to become better yourself.”Governor Livingston + Local PridePost went on to Governor Livingston High School, where she continued developing as an athlete and student. She credits Coach Chris Eckert as someone who saw more than her soccer talent.“He saw my drive outside of soccer — in the weight room, running, all of that,” Post said. “He knew I could pursue something at the collegiate level, and he did everything he could to help me get there.”That distinction matters. Talent can be noticed quickly. Character often takes longer to recognize.The willingness to train when no one asks, improve when no one applauds, and stay committed when things are difficult is often what separates promise from progress.Rutgers BreakthroughAt Rutgers University, the level changed. The game became faster, stronger, and more demanding. Every player had credentials. Every roster spot had to be earned.Post admitted she did not arrive feeling like she had it all figured out.“You go from being one of the best players on your team to being surrounded by some of the best players in the country,” she said. “That was hard to deal with, but I also think it’s how you grow.”Growth at that level often includes rejection.Playing time changes. Confidence gets tested. Mistakes are magnified. Post said one of the biggest lessons she learned was not allowing setbacks to define her future.“It’s just a matter of riding the wave and not letting one setback determine the rest of your career,” she said.That perspective is powerful for any young person. Whether in sports, academics, relationships, or business, rejection is often part of progress.Learning to absorb disappointment without losing belief in yourself or your ability is a life skill.Post also learned to focus on what she could control. My mom always taught me that “I can’t control what happens around me, or what people do, I can only control how I respond to a situation.” Post discussed that as a player, you always want to be on the field, but when you’re not, you can’t let it upset you. She went on to say “…if I act like I’m mad, it impacts me, it’s a distraction. I remind myself in those moments, it’s not about me – whoever is on the field is there for a reason. We are here as a team.” Character + TalentEventually, Post became captain.That title, she said, taught her that leadership is not about being the loudest person in the room. It is about putting the team first.“When you accept a position to be captain, you have to put the team before yourself,” she said. There were times she was frustrated personally but understood that leaders set the emotional tone. “How you behave, is how your team is going to act,” she said.Her coach once explained why she had been chosen as one of the captains, stating, “You’re not being chosen as a captain to necessarily be the most vocal voice on this team. It’s because you do the right things, for the right reasons, at the right time.”That same character showed in another honor: the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. The honor recognizes student-athletes who demonstrate strong ethics, good citizenship, and academic excellence - Post appeared in 65 matches while also earning Academic All-Big Ten recognition.For Post, that recognition carried special meaning because it reflected values that outlast soccer.“I think it’s something that lives beyond soccer,” she said. She added that the award meant even more knowing coaches and teammates believed she represented those values.In an era often obsessed with highlights and outcomes, sportsmanship remains one of the highest values.Life Beyond SoccerPost is also a finance major at Rutgers, balancing the demands of Division I athletics with serious academic commitments.She remembers preparing for difficult exams while competing in the Big Ten Championship. It’s those moments where you learn how to manage pressure, communicate with professors, and stay disciplined when schedules become intense.Her next chapter will take her overseas. Post plans to move to England for a master’s program in marketing while continuing to compete.It is another example of something many successful athletes understand: the field teaches lessons that travel anywhere.Work ethic. Accountability. Teamwork. Emotional control. Adaptability.Those traits are valuable in every boardroom and every profession. She also shared a lesson passed down by her mother after an early injury changed her perspective.“There’s so much more to life than soccer.”That balance, Post said, helped her see athletics as important — but never the only thing that defines a person.Coaching U7: The Next Generation of PlayersToday, Post is giving back by coaching the Mountainside FC Girls 7U soccer alongside Michaela Whelan and Michael Cerreta. Whelan, who co-founded the MFC program with Roxy Becker, Ed Matos, Stephen Becker and Andy Pachter in 2024, to expand opportunities for youth soccer in Mountainside; has remained dedicated to that mission. Since its launch, the program has grown from 36 to nearly 200 players. Whelan said bringing Post into the program was a natural fit, noting that her presence shows Mountainside’s young athletes what’s possible. “When our girls see Allie, I hope they see themselves — and that it gives them confidence to dream big,” Whelan said.Post added, “And at this age, while developing them as players is important, helping them fall in love with the game is our priority.”When asked what she hopes those girls remember, her answer was not about drills or wins. She hopes they remember friendships, fun moments, being together, and return next season.“I remember the friends I was with,” Post said of her own earliest soccer memories. “I don’t remember the drills.”That may be the most important part of her story. Not every child needs to become a Division I athlete.But every child can benefit from movement, teamwork, friendships, confidence, discipline, and the experience of working toward something alongside others.Post said team sports teach lessons difficult to learn alone. “You have built-in best friends,” she said. “If one succeeds, we all succeed.”For Mountainside residents, Post’s journey is a reminder that small towns still matter.They matter because relationships are built, they provide support, and values are repeated daily. They matter because when children are known, encouraged, and challenged, extraordinary things can happen.When asked what advice she would give others, Post kept it simple.“You’re going to have ups and downs,” she said. “Keep working hard, be a good person, and never forget where you came from.”For one Mountainside girl who became a Rutgers captain, that mindset carried her far. And for the next generation growing up on those same fields, her story is proof that big dreams can still rise from small towns.For more information on Mountainside FC Soccer, go to: https://www.mountainsidefc.org/about-us