Camryn Biegalski was only 4 years old when she began playing soccer, but it didn’t take the Lombard resident long to realize she wanted to play professionally one day.

“I always tell people that right when I started playing soccer, I knew I wanted to play and I didn’t really give myself any other option,” Biegalski said. “That was my end goal.

“Obviously, there were bumps in the road along the way and some points where I was like, ‘Do I really want to do this?’ But once I committed to play at Wisconsin it started to get a little closer.”

Biegalski, a 2016 graduate of Glenbard East, reached her goal in January when, after an All-American career at Wisconsin, the Chicago Red Stars selected the defender with the 14th pick in the 2020 NWSL college draft.

While the coronavirus pandemic prevented the NWSL from playing its usual 24-game schedule, it did manage to stage a Challenge Cup tournament in Utah in July and a four-game Fall Series.

Biegalski played three games in the Fall Series, making her pro debut at right back as a substitute in a 2-1 road loss at Washington on Sept. 12. She got her first start against Sky Blue in a 4-1 win at Seat Geek Stadium in Bridgeview on Sept. 20 and also started Chicago’s 1-1 tie with Washington six days later.

“When I was drafted it was crazy,” Biegalski said. “I was super excited.

“When I played my first game I was like, ‘I finally made it.’”

Though she is only 22, Biegalski has been an elite talent for a long time. She joined Oak Brook-based Eclipse Select, one of the top club programs in the nation, when she was in sixth grade.

Eclipse is run by Red Stars coach Rory Dames, who has several former Eclipse players on the Red Stars.

“The advantage for the players and for myself is we both understand the culture,” Dames said. “The culture that was built at the club is similar to the culture that’s been built at the Red Stars club, so they know what the standards are and they know what to expect.

“A lot of times they come in and compete every day and work hard and take pride in that. That’s not necessarily a normal thing for everybody, so the kids that have been through that in their youth days understand what that is coming into the pro level and it certainly gives them an advantage.”

Biegalski said there was a comfort factor in playing her Dames.

“I knew Rory and his coaching tactics and style,” Biegalski said. “I was still obviously a little nervous going into it because I hadn’t played for Rory in five years, but I definitely think that playing for him helped me understand how the training was going to go and stuff like that.”

Already extremely physically fit, the 5-foot-9 Biegalski adapted to the physical demands of the pro game.

“Camryn by nature is an attacking outside back who likes to get up and down the sidelines,” Dames said. “She’s very powerful, she’s very athletic.

“She can cover a lot of ground, so I think she brings a few different elements there.”

Like all rookies, Biegalski has a lot of room for improvement. The pace of the pro game cannot be simulated.

“The speed of play is a lot faster and I’m a defender, so defending has been challenging,” Biegalski said. “But I’m working on it and the coaches are working with me to get better at it.”

Biegalski’s teammates have been impressed with her efforts. Third-year player Zoey Goralski, who starred at Neuqua Valley and UCLA, has been a mentor. Goralski, 25, plays both defense and forward and scored her first pro goal against Sky Blue when Biegalski was on the field.

“Cam has really good instincts and skills going forward and also defending out of the back,” Goralski said. “When I play forward in front of her we try to work off each other as a duo, and she’s been really easy to work with.

“I’ve been giving her little tips here and there. I’ve seen a lot of good things and I think she’s going to be an amazing player.”

Biegalski did not play high school soccer at Glenbard East, but she did play freshman basketball and was on the varsity indoor track team.

“I’m glad I came out of Glenbard East,” Biegalski said. “I had a lot of experiences there and that kind of made me the person I am today.

“I was never able to play high school but I wish I could have. I love the high school and for the girls that play soccer there, I want them to see that I came out of high school and if I can do it, they can do it.”

That’s why Biegalski is coaching youth soccer for the Lombard Firebirds. Though fans were not allowed at Red Stars games this fall, Biegalski’s charges got a charge out of watching her play on TV.

“A lot of girls came up to me after that and said, ‘We saw you on TV,’” Biegalski said. “I was talking with the club director and he wants them to come out and watch me play.”

Biegalski, who has a sociology degree and wants to work with hospitalized children after her playing career is over, is hoping the youngsters will be allowed to attend games during the 2021 season, when she hopes to get more playing time.

“Like all of our young players, Cam’s got some work to do in the offseason,” Dames said. “It’s a big jump from the college game to the pro game.

“She’s made some huge strides since we started in a few areas. I think Cam will decide what her future holds and how she fits into the group.”