Madison Eisenhart started playing soccer at a young age, and she had an instant love affair with the sport. It began a lifelong association on different levels leading to her current position as the new Catasauqua head girls’ soccer coach.

“I started playing when I was 6-years-old for Tri-Boro travel,” recalled Eisenhart. “I knew from there I wanted to pursue soccer. I then moved to Western Lehigh.”

From there, she played four years for Northampton High School. In high school, Eisenhart played for the Tempest Women’s Semi-Pro team. She continued her career at Elizabethtown College and also coached the college’s club team. Eisenhart also played for Penn Fusion Lehigh Valley and Lehigh Valley United.

It was just another step.

“Soccer for me is an outlet to do what I love and enjoy doing it,” stressed Eisenhart. “I chose to start coaching because soccer has had a significant impact on my life, and I wanted the opportunity to give back to the game that has given me so much.”

Before she accepted the job at Catasauqua, Eisenhart was an assistant coach for two years at Bethlehem Catholic. Eisenhart also coaches for the ENCO Soccer Club, where she serves as the head coach for the Girls 15/16 White team as well as the pre-showcase high school girls team.

Eisenhart, who replaced Dave Harth, views Catasauqua as a place to build a program. The Rough Riders finished 2-15 last season.

“I chose Catasauqua because I saw an opportunity to help build something special,” noted Eisenhart. “The program is in a position where players can grow both individually and as a team, and I was excited by the chance to be part of that development. The school’s strong sense of community, combined with the opportunity to make a positive impact on the student-athletes, made Catasauqua the right fit for me.”

Eisenhart already has made an impact, as her team meets with a St. Luke’s sports performance coach for strength and agility through conditioning and lift sessions as a team. They are also a part of the weekly Lehigh Valley Soccer High School League.

The first-year coach has learned from her own experiences as a player, and she plans to help them avoid some of her roadblocks along the way.

“I didn’t have the greatest coaches growing up, and it showed me how much it can alter your mental health,” emphasized Eisenhart. “I want to give younger athletes the coach experience I never had.

“Coaching allows me to help young athletes develop not only their skills on the field, but also their confidence, leadership, and resilience. I enjoy creating a positive environment where players can grow, challenge themselves, and learn valuable life lessons through sports.”

Eisenhart is confident she also can help her team get back on track.

“I see the program as one with a lot of potential and a strong foundation to build upon,” beamed Eisenhart. “Right now, we’re in a growth phase where the focus is on developing confidence, improving technical and tactical understanding, and establishing a culture of accountability and commitment. While there will be challenges along the way, I believe the players are capable of making significant progress, and I’m excited to help guide that process and build a program that can be competitive year after year.

“I’m excited to be part of that journey and help move the program forward. I believe the future is bright, and I’m looking forward to what we can accomplish together.”