Sofia Astarbi '23 Recruiting Profile

I have been enthusiastically and passionately playing soccer since I was 5 years old.  In order to combine both mental and physical well-being and exercise, I am a brown belt in Tae Kwan Do. When I am on the pitch, I feel invincible and free. While there are certainly stronger and taller athletes, I am disciplined, diligent, and confident in my skills.

The most profound learning experience I've had as a female athlete is playing on an all boys team for several years. My coach, Coach DeLacy, saw something special in my ferocity and passion, so he took a wild chance putting a young lady in his starting roster of larger boys. The funniest thing he has ever said about me is that I am like a mosquito while defending because I am both tiny and persistent while never disengaging from my mark.

Two of the more meaningful experiences I've had under Coach DeLacy's tutelage include traveling to Honduras and Barcelona. In Honduras, my coach's birth country, we trained at an orphanage. We had "pick up" games in a concrete yard where we taught and learned from each other, despite language barriers. In addition, playing futsal with pro-athletes and trainers in Barcelona and Valencia taught me the high intensity of international play.  Both playing futsal and being immersed in a different culture helped to motivate me to further push myself in my training.

I am a versatile player in that I can play any field or court position.  I aspire to continue my training in college as well as play abroad in Spain or Italy. Ultimately, I desire to "go pro" while also pursuing a career in forensic studies/criminology or law. 

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to chasing my dreams!