ROH - your post is very insightful. Kids need to remember the main reason they go to school is to get an education. You are "spot on" in knowing a kid's athletic career can end at any point - and WILL end someday.
I've seen your daughter play and admired her talents. Among other quality soccer traits, she has "court sense" - can't imagine where she gets that from?!?! Clemson has a strong club soccer program - your daughter is probably already aware of that. Plenty of kids who are capable of playing D1 soccer are involved in the club program and do it because they love the game. It's easy to see your daughter loves the game.
Looking forward to the HS/Clemson discussion, assuming "HS" is Hershey Strosberg and not "high school". We know some quality kids who left the program this year and wonder what happened. It would seem that lots of folks are watching HS to see how successful that program will be.
