Minium: ODU Women's Soccer Recruited All-American Ashlynn Kulha From the ACC's Back Yard

By Harry Minium

NORFOLK, Va. – It was the third or fourth time that Ashlynn Kulha had tackled a Virginia Tech defender deep in Old Dominion’s zone and prevented a potential shot on goal.

Earlier in the game, she’d been hit in the face with a ball and her nose began to bleed profusely. She headed to the sidelines briefly, where athletic trainer Rachelle Bowman wiped away the blood, shoved some tissue up her nose, and away she went back on the field.

It was a chippy game. One frustrated Hokie tackled Kulha late in the game – the Monarchs would upset then nationally ranked Tech that eve – she nonetheless dusted herself off and reached out a hand to help ODU defender up off the turf.

It was a silent admission that Kulha is so good, that even in the midst of heated competition she deserves a ton of respect.

The 5-foot-11 junior from Holly Springs, North Carolina surely does. She is often the best player on the field for the ODU women's soccer team, which hosts James Madison tonight at 6 p.m. at the ODU Soccer Complex.

Kulha was named Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year last year as a sophomore and a United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-American. And she was an iron woman -- she played every minute of every game for the Monarchs last season.  

She was, to no one's surprise, named the preseason Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year this season. 

ODU Head Coach Angie Hind said coaches from power schools sometimes ask her, “How did you find her?”

“They’re often a bit edgy when they ask,” Hind said. “I always say coyly, oh, ‘I can’t tell you that.’”

Actually, it’s no big secret.

Kulha was a standout in Holly Springs, North Carolina, not only in high school but also on her travel team. Holly Springs, mind you, is 20 minutes east of Raleigh, and there are three ACC teams in the Triangle Area.

One of her coaches called Hind and said she's a good player and almost no one is recruiting her.

“We really respected his opinion and when we went to see her, we loved her,” Hind said. “And then she came to our camp, we loved her even more.”

Kulha never heard from ACC schools. She was recruited by Campbell and a few other schools, but none who play on ODU’s level.

Hind said that may be because her team’s record wasn’t particularly good.

“Some schools won’t give you a look if you don’t play for a great team,” Hind said. “But if you do the hard work and look at the kids as individuals, you see the potential.”

When Kulha visited ODU, it had all she wanted – great facilities, a nice stadium, a great campus and a program that fit her like a glove.

“It was like everything the coaches wanted from me is everything I wanted,” she said. “And being close to the beach, that was a big plus.

“I also liked what the coaches want for their players. They want the best for each and every one of us.”

Kulha has been playing soccer since she was a child and like most young boys and girls, wanted to be a striker. Who doesn’t love to score goals?

But she quickly hit a growth spurt and suddenly towered over her teammates. Often, taller players get shifted back on defense or in goal, but it wasn’t until she began heading the ball every time it came near her that she was moved back.

“You’re not supposed to use your head when you’re nine or 10 years old,” she said with a shrug of her shoulders. “It’s a good rule but I was breaking it. So, they were like, “Yeah, you’ve got to go back on defense.’”

It tuned out to be the perfect spot for Kuhla.

“I know so many players get a lot of joy from scoring goals,” she said. “But I draw a lot of joy out of stopping goals.”

Soccer is a family thing for Kulha, her parents and two sisters.

Her mother, Kimberly, played on two national championship teams at Ithaca College in New York and coached her daughter until she was old enough to begin playing for the Wake FC Club in Holly Springs.

Her older sister, Reagan, played at Barton College in North Carolina, while her younger sister, Reese, plays at Holly Springs High.

Her father, Billy, didn’t play soccer in college, but the Army vet can grill a mean burger and often does so after ODU games.

Families cook for the team after every game and the Kuhla clan did the cooking after the victory over Virginia Tech.

“It’s such a great family,” Hind said. “You can see where Ashlynn gets her character.

“I think the phrase used in the United States is blue-collar. Ashlynn is very humble, very hard working. She’s someone who doesn’t really know how good she is.”

Amy Lynch, ODU’s director of student-athlete services and community engagement, and who handles academic advising for women’s soccer, says she was immediately struck by Kulha’s leadership abilities from her first time on campus. 

“She’s the one everyone on the team goes to if they have questions or concerns or if they have anything they want to talk through,” Lynch said.

“She’s a best friend and a confidant for all of her teammates. And she has such a high standard for herself.”

And while she could transfer “up” to a power program, she says she would never consider doing so.

“I have absolutely everything I want and need here at ODU,” she said. “Why would I consider leaving?”

Kulha wears No. 14, and that’s a hallowed number for the ODU women. Former ODU greats Jaclyn Stroud (who is married to men’s coach Tennant McVea), Riley Kennett and Emily Roberts all wore that number.

“It’s a very special jersey,” Hind said. “A lot of great players who helped us win a lot of games have worn it.”

Including the present occupant.

Minium is ODU’s senior executive writer. Contact him at hminium@odu.edu or follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram