Vancy Ruiz-Andaluz '22 Recruiting Profile

Soccer has been a major influence in my life, it has taught me things. It's taught me teamwork: there's no "I" in the team. I've learned as a follower and now I set the example as a leader. Sacrificing and commitment have been a way of life since I began playing club soccer at the age of six.  The older I become, the more sacrifices have been needed to meet the commitments of the teams I play for.   These last three years, I have played on a club team that is located an hour and a half one direction from where I live and go to school.  I have traveled that five hours, which includes practice time, three days a week, and then as needed for games and tournaments on weekends as well.  The huge amount of sacrifice and commitment has been well worth it, earning me a position on the varsity team my freshman year.

 As a freshman, I made the varsity soccer team.  I was mixed with emotion.  I was both elated and terrified.  I and had the skills but was smaller and was playing against seventeen and eighteen-year-olds.  They were huge and initially intimidated me.  Freshman year was an eye-opener and I had a turning point mid-year.  I was benched for playing scared, intimidated by the size of the other players.  Sophmore year playing scared was not a factor.  I was a starter as a center back/full back.  I was now the one who imitated others while fiercely defending the goal.  Sophomore year,  my high school team took 1st in conference and I was awarded "1st Team All-Conference."