Photo by: Carlos Puma
Coaches' Corner: Assistant Women's Soccer Coach Sarah Devine
1/6/2017 12:14:00 PM | UC Riverside Athletics Association
My path to UCR began nine years ago as I have been an active member of the Big West Conference for as many seasons! I played four years at UC Irvine, coached there for one year, and then the previous assistant coach connected me with Head Coach Nat Gonzalez for an interview. The rest is history!
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UCR is special because we are the only Division I school in the Inland Empire. There are millions of people in the Inland Empire and only one opportunity to play Division I sports.Â
We are also one of the most diverse schools in the nation. The campus is a cultural melting pot of so many different people which creates a fantastic learning and growing environment for students.Â
UC Riverside is also a special campus because of the comradery that is formed in a community that has to work for what we have. When you have a lot of truly dedicated people putting in the work, the product is so much more meaningful.
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Women's Soccer needs to be competing in the NCAA tournament. Being the only DI school in the Inland Empire, the talent pool of female soccer players is abundant. In my four seasons, we have made the Big West tournament twice and went into penalty kicks in the finals on one of those trips. I also want to win the Big West Tournament. On a personal level, I have been to six Big West Tournaments including three trips to the final game and have yet to hold that trophy!
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The biggest thing that our team needs from the Athletics Association is support. The more people we have watching the games or posting to social media, the more our team gets into the community. The more our team is talked about in Southern California, the more players will be thinking about UC Riverside as a viable college soccer option. Soon, local athletes that used to have to leave home to compete at the highest level are excited about staying in Riverside. The ability to recruit those players starts with getting our program into the lime light. Monetary gifts help to dress the players with the most specialized gear and to travel to high stakes games that put UC Riverside on TV.Â
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Our alumni have been amazing. In the last four years the alumni base has grown full of former soccer players that loved their time on campus. This spring we will be putting on an Alumni Game here in the stadium. Alumni can help by spreading the word and attending that game. As we continue to evolve into a nationally-contending soccer program, we will need the foundation that the alumni have built. As the alumni continue to mature and have families and jobs of their own, we hope they continue to give back!
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When we beat UC Irvine in the semifinal game of the 2013 Big West Tournament, I could not have been happier. We started that game with 11 underclassmen on the field and relied mostly on these sophomores and freshman to run the team. It was unprecedented, and Irvine did not think that we were for real until Kelly Velasquez '17 netted a goal off of a cross from Andrea Morales '14 in the final moments of the game.Â
The best part was after the game there were hundreds of UC Riverside fans lined up along the bleachers screaming for our girls! The stands were full of alumni, parents, friends, and UCR fans. We have a picture of that moment in our office, and my goal is to get there again.
Â
Giving back to this community is more than just money. It is a vote of faith in what UC Riverside athletics is doing for our student-athletes. Giving back shows that you believe that Championships are possible. It shows that you have their backs, and you support the work they put into their passion. Giving back to UC Riverside Women's Soccer is an investment in the lives of these athletes!
Â
Something that UC Riverside Athletics Association members might not know about me is that I also coach two soccer teams for nationally ranked Slammers FC Newport Beach, where I have worked with players that are on the youth national teams. One season I coached Kobe Bryant's daughter! I am also a workout nut. Come find me in the weight room at UCR at 7am most mornings.
In 2010 my college team, UC Irvine, made it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. In 2013 I won a WPSL National Championship with the San Diego SeaLions! In 2013 UC Riverside beat UC Irvine in the final moments of the Big West Semifinal to go on to the final. Best three soccer moments of my life. My mom and dad are my sports mentors. Every day I wake up and hope to make them proud of their daughter.
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GO HIGHLANDERS! Follow our team on Instagram @ucr_wsoccer
Â
UCR is special because we are the only Division I school in the Inland Empire. There are millions of people in the Inland Empire and only one opportunity to play Division I sports.Â
We are also one of the most diverse schools in the nation. The campus is a cultural melting pot of so many different people which creates a fantastic learning and growing environment for students.Â
UC Riverside is also a special campus because of the comradery that is formed in a community that has to work for what we have. When you have a lot of truly dedicated people putting in the work, the product is so much more meaningful.
Â
Women's Soccer needs to be competing in the NCAA tournament. Being the only DI school in the Inland Empire, the talent pool of female soccer players is abundant. In my four seasons, we have made the Big West tournament twice and went into penalty kicks in the finals on one of those trips. I also want to win the Big West Tournament. On a personal level, I have been to six Big West Tournaments including three trips to the final game and have yet to hold that trophy!
Â
The biggest thing that our team needs from the Athletics Association is support. The more people we have watching the games or posting to social media, the more our team gets into the community. The more our team is talked about in Southern California, the more players will be thinking about UC Riverside as a viable college soccer option. Soon, local athletes that used to have to leave home to compete at the highest level are excited about staying in Riverside. The ability to recruit those players starts with getting our program into the lime light. Monetary gifts help to dress the players with the most specialized gear and to travel to high stakes games that put UC Riverside on TV.Â
Â
Our alumni have been amazing. In the last four years the alumni base has grown full of former soccer players that loved their time on campus. This spring we will be putting on an Alumni Game here in the stadium. Alumni can help by spreading the word and attending that game. As we continue to evolve into a nationally-contending soccer program, we will need the foundation that the alumni have built. As the alumni continue to mature and have families and jobs of their own, we hope they continue to give back!
Â
When we beat UC Irvine in the semifinal game of the 2013 Big West Tournament, I could not have been happier. We started that game with 11 underclassmen on the field and relied mostly on these sophomores and freshman to run the team. It was unprecedented, and Irvine did not think that we were for real until Kelly Velasquez '17 netted a goal off of a cross from Andrea Morales '14 in the final moments of the game.Â
The best part was after the game there were hundreds of UC Riverside fans lined up along the bleachers screaming for our girls! The stands were full of alumni, parents, friends, and UCR fans. We have a picture of that moment in our office, and my goal is to get there again.
Â
Giving back to this community is more than just money. It is a vote of faith in what UC Riverside athletics is doing for our student-athletes. Giving back shows that you believe that Championships are possible. It shows that you have their backs, and you support the work they put into their passion. Giving back to UC Riverside Women's Soccer is an investment in the lives of these athletes!
Â
Something that UC Riverside Athletics Association members might not know about me is that I also coach two soccer teams for nationally ranked Slammers FC Newport Beach, where I have worked with players that are on the youth national teams. One season I coached Kobe Bryant's daughter! I am also a workout nut. Come find me in the weight room at UCR at 7am most mornings.
In 2010 my college team, UC Irvine, made it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. In 2013 I won a WPSL National Championship with the San Diego SeaLions! In 2013 UC Riverside beat UC Irvine in the final moments of the Big West Semifinal to go on to the final. Best three soccer moments of my life. My mom and dad are my sports mentors. Every day I wake up and hope to make them proud of their daughter.
Â
GO HIGHLANDERS! Follow our team on Instagram @ucr_wsoccer
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