When it comes to women’s soccer, the #20 ranked Wisconsin Badgers are nothing to play with! Senior, Darcy Riley and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Badgers women’s soccer team are currently in season and are trying to build off of the spectacular season that they had last year. The women’s badgers made it to the Sweet16 last season which is great, but they have even higher expectations for this season!
Let me run you through the past couple years of Darcy’s life in the soccer world:
Prep: Led Walsh Jesuit High School to an undefeated season (23-0). Darcy’s high school team also won the Ohio High School State Championship, and also received the title of the #1 ranked team in the nation that season as well! Not even mentioning all of the individual awards and player of the year awards that Darcy received as well.
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Freshmen Year: Darcy recorded her first collegiate career goal.
Sophomore Year: Ended the season with 5 points, including 1 goal and 3 assists.
Junior Year: Had the assist to the Badgers first goal of the 2009 season. In the latter part of the season, Darcy had surgery on her foot which kept her out of soccer for many months.
Senior Year: Just came off of a tough loss (1-0) to the #3 ranked team in the country (UCLA). Next game is against Portland (Friday, September 3, 2010).
You get the point… Soccer has been a HUGE part of Darcy’s life thus far, and she plans on it staying that way! Darcy is majoring in Education; she loves kids and loves teaching. With that major, she plans on graduating and then starting her career in coaching. But this isn’t just a profession that she “wants to pursue”; she is literally made for this! Darcy now has a reward that is named after her (The Darcy Riley Award) which is given to student-athletes who excel in sports as well as the representation of her high school’s motto “men and women for others”.
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With all the things that Darcy has gone through, one thing that I can say is she has maintained her composure and has been able to prevail through any obstacle thrown at her! Someone like this is truly one to look up to and admire… I asked her if she had any advice to give to anyone that is reading her story, and she said, “Just stay confident! Don’t get down if one person says no because there will be someone else that will want you! Always give it your ALL! If you don’t, you’ll regret it!”
For additional info and exclusive pictures of Darcy and many other athletes, go visit www.DormRumor.com
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