Growing up in Santa Barbara immersed me in a vibrant soccer culture from day one.
With my dad coaching men's soccer at UCSB, the field became my second home.
I have vivid memories of dashing across the field after games, soaking up the post-match talks, and traveling with my dad.
Soccer wasn't just a sport; it was my way of life, filled with camaraderie and excitement.
But, soccer wasn’t my only passion early on.
When my parents divorced, my mother and I moved to Vail, Colorado, when I was five years old.
She’s a former member of the U.S. Ski team, so with her background and our new surroundings, I gravitated towards skiing as well.
Skiing made sense, too.
Over time, it became apparent that I had a talent for the sport.
I suppose it was in my genes.
As my passion grew and I developed my skills, the demands of the sport intensified, particularly in a place like Vail, where competitive skiing of all disciplines was a significant part of the culture.
There came a point where I was fully ski racing, even engaging in full-time training schedules.
I’d ski from 8 am to 11 am, then have a regular school day, often extending my hours until 5 pm to catch up on missed work from the morning sessions.
Balancing my aspirations on the soccer pitch with my commitment to skiing proved challenging, especially since the optimal soccer opportunities were in Denver, a two-hour drive from my home base.
I began to feel stretched thin.
I had to make a decision.
Two sports, two loves
I always aspired to be a student-athlete.
I felt blessed with a passion for two sports, but I needed to commit to one future.
On one hand I loved the robust fitness and mental rigor skiing afforded.
The slopes exhilarated me.
I had devoted my childhood to training, becoming a junior Olympian in U14 and U16 alpine ski racing.
Skiing even had its own type of team energy. I felt a camaraderie with the other skiers, albeit in a different form than soccer.
But soccer stole my heart, just like it did when I watched my dad’s games as a kid.
Ultimately, I’m thankful for the mountains but chose the field instead.
I gravitated toward soccer for its inherent team-oriented nature. Unlike skiing, where success often feels individualized, soccer fosters more of a team environment, which appealed to me more and more as I matured.
Additionally, as the daughter of a prominent ski racer, I competed under a shadow of pressure to live up to my mother's legacy.
Choosing soccer carved space for me to forge my own path.
Returning to the sport I grew up watching also also helped strengthen my bond with my father, something I cherished.
I believe that my experiences in skiing, though demanding, enhanced my skills as an athlete, which translated well onto the soccer field.
With my parents' support, I traded my skis for cleats – I was ready for my next adventure.
On the road again
Switching sports brought its own set of challenges.
While skiing was a major part of the Vail culture, soccer was a little more difficult.
There were certainly leagues and local teams, but the most competitive teams and leagues were in Denver, a two-hour drive away.
And adding a four-hour drive to my schedule wasn’t something I was looking forward to — but it’s what I had to do.
So, for two to three times a week, my mom would drive me to Denver.
Life as a student-athlete
When I was in my junior year of high school, I left my home and family and friends in Colorado to pursue soccer on a new stage.
I repeated my junior year of high school to reclass and compete at Lawrence Academy in Boston.
Moving was a huge adjustment, but it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
My time in Boston was incredibly rewarding, and it was there that I truly redefined my future as a soccer player.
But I missed playing in front of my friends and family.
Little did I know I’d get the chance when I signed to play collegiate soccer at Arizona.
This past season, I played in Colorado for the first time since I left for boarding school.
The support I received from my friends and family was overwhelming.
I asked all of my teammates for their complimentary tickets so that I could accommodate everyone who wanted to come to the game.
I had old ski mates, childhood best friends, loved ones, and even young girls from my town who looked up to me as a local athlete.
It was a moment that I will never forget, and it just reaffirmed my love for the game and the impact it has had on my life.
Soccer has taken me on many adventures, from coast to coast with many memories in the mountains in between.
As I look to the future, I hope soccer will always be a part of my life.
Whether I'm playing professionally or just enjoying a casual game with friends, I'm excited to see where this beautiful game takes me next.
