From Overland Park, Kansas, to Des Moines, Iowa, to Fredericia, Denmark, Steven Enna has turned his passion into his profession, and he has done it all the right way.
 
Years before he would lead the Drake University men's soccer team to the NCAA Tournament and sign his first pro contract, Enna fell in love with soccer at a young age. Enna's father, Rick, was Steven's role model growing up, and coached him during Steven's time at St. James Academy in Lenexa, Kansas.
 
With Rick at the helm and Steven starring on the field – he was named a NSCAA All-American in 2013 and earned the 2013-14 Gatorade Player of the Year Award in Kansas – the Thunder twice advanced to the state championship game.
 
With a pedigree of that caliber, Enna had colleges lining up for his services. He chose Drake, and he credits that decision for many of the successes he has enjoyed since.
 
"I am proud to be a Drake Bulldog and I am extremely thankful that I was able to have the opportunity to play a sport, study and experience college alongside some of my closest friends," Enna said.
 
Enna had older friends playing for the Bulldogs who spoke highly of the program, the team chemistry and the soccer. Those testimonials encouraged him to take a visit, and he fell in love with Drake immediately.
 
"I was very impressed with the school and how well-respected it was," Enna said. "I knew that I would walk away with a great soccer experience as well as a great education."
 
Enna's college career is one marked by steady improvement – a testament to his consistency and hard work.
   
Enna, a 6-foot-4 forward, collected Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman honors after scoring three goals in 16 games during his first campaign donning the blue and white. As a sophomore, he started 18 of 19 games and tallied four goals. He helped the Bulldogs win the MVC Championship and reach the NCAA Tournament as they defeated No. 18 Kentucky, 2-1. Enna found the back of the net in Drake's second-round match against Creighton, checking another milestone off his list.



Enna built on that momentum and broke out as a junior, setting a personal best by scoring five goals and earning All-MVC honors for the second time in his career.
 
Everything seemed to be setting up for a superb senior year, but adversity struck as Enna suffered a season-ending foot injury just two games into the season.
 
He viewed the setback as an opportunity, and he approached the situation with a renewed sense of perspective and purpose.
 
Enna redshirted to gain a fifth season of eligibility, finished his finance degree, and used the extra year to complete his Master's in Business Administration. His achievements in the classroom earned him spots on the MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team and the CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team.
 
On the field, Enna put an exclamation point on his college career by recording five goals and three assists en route to being tabbed an All-MVC selection for the third time, in addition to garnering all-region recognition.
 
During Enna's time with the program, the Bulldogs won 37 games and claimed the 2015 MVC Tournament championship. Enna's considerable achievements on the field – highlighted by his goal in the NCAA Tournament and his All-MVC honors – are matched by his exploits off the field, as he earned recognition for his success in completing undergraduate and Master's degrees from Drake.
   
Enna used his successes as motivation to accomplish his ultimate goal: becoming a professional soccer player. That childhood dream became a reality after he attended a three-day AX Soccer Tour combine in Atlanta, Georgia.
 
Enna put his skills on display in front of multiple European clubs, and he performed well enough to receive a call from FC Fredericia, a club based in Denmark that competes in the Danish First Division (also called the NordicBet Liga).
 
On June 27, 2019, two weeks after his tryout, Enna inked a two-year contract to join the club.


 
As of Nov. 7, FC Fredericia is tied for first place in the league with 32 points through 16 games. If the club finishes at the top of the table, it earns a promotion to the Danish Superliga, the top league in Denmark.
 
Much of FC Fredericia's success this season is due to Enna, who has scored nine goals and notched two assists halfway through his first season as a professional. He has also endeared himself to the Red Pride, a group of die-hard FC Fredericia fans. They chant, "Steven's on FIRE, your defense is terrified because Steven's on FIRE, FIRE, FIRE, la la la la la la la!"
 
 
Those cheers rained down from the stands when Enna recorded the first hat trick of his professional career against Nykobing FC.
 
"That was a special moment for me," Enna said. "A true dream come true."


 
Enna credits his experience at Drake in helping prepare him for the next level.
 
"During my time at Drake I was able to develop as a person and had to learn to handle adversity," Enna said. "Gareth Smith and Kyle Smith make it known that they are there for their players. They are always encouraging players to become better, to work hard and go the extra mile. They are open in their communication and always welcome players into their office to talk about film, trainings, life and more. They have helped me tremendously during my time at Drake and I thank them for all they have done."
 
Even though Enna is overseas and more than 4,300 miles away from Drake's campus, he still represents Des Moines' hometown team as he lives out his childhood dream.
 
He is proof that at Drake, student-athletes can do it all; get a quality education, have a great experience and pursue academic and athletic excellence.
 
"You can call us a team, but it really is a family," Enna said. "Go Bulldogs!"
 
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Stay up to date on Steven's soccer journey by following his Instagram account, @stennafc.