Maria Ruggery '15 Recruiting Profile

For as long as I have been a student, I have been an athlete. I have been blessed with the talent, and have worked hard in the classroom and on the field to be successful in both areas. As I have focused my sights on pursuing Physical Therapy as a career, I realized that I can't see myself being a college student without being part of my school's soccer team.

My experience as a soccer player has not only been a sport, but a lifestyle choice. I have played currently for 13 years and I have loved the game ever since I was a four year old running around just kicking a ball with my older two siblings. My whole family has always been a "soccer" family, going to college games, each other's games, my parents coaching, or just playing in the back yard. I would love to further my experience in a college setting and better myself as a person while I better my skills as a soccer player.

If I had to characterize myself, I would say I'm a team player, loyal to my teammates on and off the field, hard working on the field and off, and easily coachable. As a captain of my high school team for the last two years, I have taken a big leadership role coaching on the field and motivating others. Like Mia Hamm said, " I am a member of a team, and I rely on the team, I defer to it and sacrifice for it, because the team, not the individual, is the ultimate champion." I love this quote because it describes my idea of being an individual player as well as a team player , especially since I have been a captain. I compete in practice to make my team as well as myself better. I never go easy. I take my school work, soccer, and the other sports I play seriously. I believe I have developed the time management skills to carry me through and be successful in both academics and athletics at the college level.