Nothing can prepare you for the feeling you get when you step on that field. The best way to mentally prepare is to clear your head and focus on what you’ve trained to do. When you train like our team does, those steps are ingrained in your movements. Remember to always trust yourself! If you believe in your training and in those around you, whether that be a coach, teammate, or even a positive role model, you’re unstoppable!

When you’re part of a team, you get constant reassurance that your sacrifices are worth it. All that hard work, training—it’s bigger than you. You get to help your teammates, your friends, succeed. For me, that feeling you get when you succeed as a team helps me train even harder. It makes every athletic accomplishment seem even more satisfying and I’m ready to do it all over again the next day.

One of the most important goals I set for myself is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I know none of my athletic goals matter if my body can’t accomplish them. That means getting a full night’s rest every night, eating well, and keeping a positive attitude on and off the field.

When I was younger, the hardest part was finding friends who understood my goals and actually helped me succeed as an athlete. There were many times I had to stay in instead of going out with my friends because I had practice the next morning. Saying “NO” to underage drinking is easy when you have a goal in mind and surround yourself with people who share those goals. Your friends should be your biggest support system! They should be the ones encouraging you to do the right thing, espe

I’m not working out as much as I did before—so maintaining a healthy lifestyle is extremely important. The soccer regime is still important to me, so running has always been a big part of my life. However, if I can’t run, I’ll try to do something less intense like yoga, swimming, or even just walking somewhere instead of driving! I try to think outside the box and stay active for as much of my day as I can!