University of Connecticut Athletics
WSOC Seniors Pass the Torch for Future Success
5/26/2020 12:21:00 PM | Women's Soccer
by Danny Barletta
UConn's class of 2020 is full of some amazing people, and the graduating members of the UConn women's soccer program certainly fit the bill. Over the past week, they reflected on their time in the program.
"My time as a UConn women's soccer player meant everything to me, and I feel that I have grown in tremendous ways as both a player and as a person because I was a part of this program for the last four years," forward Shay Nakahira said. "It meant being a good teammate on and off the field, holding myself and others around me accountable, always giving 100% no matter what, putting heart into everything I did, and being unselfish because I was a part of something bigger than me."
"Being able to represent UConn across my chest was everything I could of asked for in my four years," midfielder Sofia Leone said. "It meant being a competitor and most importantly a good teammate. It brought you experiences that bettered you and memories that will last a lifetime. Extremely thankful to have been a Husky."
Nakahira and Leone's classmates echoed their love and appreciation with regard to their experiences as soccer players at UConn as well. When asked for a favorite memory, some, like midfielder Alexa Casimiro, reflected about on-field memories such as winning the American Athletic Conference tournament and making a run in the NCAA tournament her freshman year. Others recalled memories off the field with teammates as their highlights.
"My best memory would be all the times we traveled together, the long bus trips, hanging out in the hotel rooms," forward Regan Schiappa said. "Those are the memories that I will remember forever."
The graduating players hope they will be remembered fondly by their teammates and coaches not just for what they accomplished on the field, but for what they meant to the team as people.
"I hope to be remembered as someone who was able to inspire others by my everyday actions," midfielder Vivien Beil said. "I am always trying to be professional as a player, student, and person. Hopefully, I was able to be a role model for younger players. I hope to be remembered as someone who is always solution-oriented, disciplined, hard-working and a good teammate."
While most of the student-athletes said they wouldn't have changed anything about their college experience, midfielder Alana Moore said there was one thing she would have changed: her mindset.
"I would change my outlook in my time as a student-athlete," Moore said. "It took me until my senior season, when I was racing the clock towards the end of my soccer career, to realize that it wasn't really about playing time or stats or how fast or strong you were. It was so much more about putting your best foot forward, and appreciating the opportunity to compete, and just the little day-to-day details that make the team culture and the college sports experience. I wish I could have known earlier to just focus on my efforts day by day and enjoy the moments."
The soccer program changed a lot during the tenure of these players. There was a coaching change, a program rebuild, and it wasn't always easy. But they made it through and achieved some success and lifelong memories in the process.
"We evolved a lot," Casimiro said. "My freshman year we were a top 10 team in the nation. After that we had a lot of rebuilding to do as a team and I think we believed in each other and trusted the process where other teams might have given up. We were a really strong group that was dedicated to each other and dedicated to achieving what we set out to do — win games. We grew a lot not only tactically and technically but mentally and emotionally as a team, and it took a lot of work."
Now, these four-year teammates are moving on, and they each have different paths that they are pursuing. Beil hopes to continue her soccer career professionally in Europe.
Casimiro will start her career as a nurse this summer at Yale New Haven Hospital.
Moore is taking this year off to work as a medical scribe in the emergency department before going to medical school next fall.
Nakahira also plans to attend medical school to pursue a career in pediatrics.
Leone also hopes to pursue a career in medicine after getting some experience in the healthcare or research field.
Schiappa is working as a TV news producer, and she someday hopes to be a news anchor.
Even though the players are moving on, they will be UConn fans for life. With the move back to the Big East conference and several talented young players already on the roster and more coming in, the women's soccer program appears to be in a good place for the future.
"I am extremely excited to see what the next few years have in store for this team," Beil said. "The young players are incredible players and people. I am certain that the Big East will have to watch out for a new team that could win championships. I will surely be following and cheering them on from a far."
The team echoed the same sentiments that the future is bright in Storrs.
"With the coaching staff installing their culture, coupled with the talent and make-up of the players that are joining the program. The team is definitely going to get back to what we had our freshman season. There is going to be a lot of winning."
Even though they won't be around to experience the future success, the senior class was a major part of putting UConn women's soccer back on the map.
