On September 11, 2023, senior Aliana Ferreira announced her commitment to play Division III soccer at Bridgewater College in Virginia.
Ferreira first gained interest from Bridgewater by sending out emails to them – a process every collegiate athlete prospect has to do. After contact, a Bridgewater scout made an appearance at her game.
“They (Bridgewater) came out, they watched me play and then they sent me an email. I really had no idea who they were, but then they were like, ‘I need you to come out and look at our campus because we really want you,’” Ferreira said. “So I went, fell in love with it and then I committed there when they gave me an offer.”
Prior to her offer, Ferreira was given the chance to attend one of Bridgewater’s camps. The team she met at the college ultimately influenced her decision to stay.
“They’re super close, so going out there is (going to be) like having another family, and they’re really competitive,” Ferreira said. “That’s what I wanted in a college team.”
Being a senior now, Ferreira knows she will have to prepare herself for her next year as a freshman in college.
“Even though I (already) push myself hard, I think I’m pushing myself a lot harder because I’m gonna have to start all over on a new team being the new freshman,” Ferreira said. “So (I’m) trying to work for my spot, just trying to make myself a lot better.”
Ferreira practices four days a week and twice on Wednesdays. Being able to balance athletics and academics is a challenge Ferreira has had leading up to her commitment.
“Sometimes I have to stay up late. Sometimes I have to wake up early to finish, but I’m always making sure that school comes first,” Ferreira said. “That’s the only way I can do soccer, if I do well in school.”
Ferreira believes that in addition to her abilities on the field, her qualities as a person have also helped her stand out to colleges.
“I’m super fast on the field and then being a good teammate,” Ferreira said. “Colleges always look out for that and being communicative too.”
Ferreira looks forward to her approaching college experiences playing the sport she loves and creating friendships through it. Although being put into soccer at the age of three, Ferreira credits her father for her lasting love of the sport.
“I kind of just grew up with it and just been around it my whole life,” Ferreira said. “It’s my hobby, (but) it’s not only my hobby. It’s my passion.”