The Denver Pioneer women's soccer team has early morning practices before most students are awake, and a rigorous schedule of classes, studying, and games that requires sacrifices from players. Members described waking up early for practice, having a full day of classes, and studying into the night. Travel weekends mean missing Thursday and Friday classes, so communication with professors is important. The coach acknowledged the team does a great job balancing their athletic and academic commitments.

2. The Pioneer women’s soccer team has practice every morning, hitting the
field for drills and conditioning before most DU students are even awake.

5. “You wake up, and
you go to practice first
thing in the morning.
Then you have classes
all day, and you study
all night. We have to
make sure we eat.
There are tutoring
hours usually, and
then we do it all
over again.”
Anna Willis,
sophomore on DU
women’s soccer team

8. Members of the DU women’s soccer team load the bus at 5:45 a.m. on a
Saturday morning, heading to the airport for a game in Portland, Ore.

9. “On travel weekends, we miss Thursday and Friday classes. You
really have to talk to teachers ahead of time and make sure
you’re getting those assignments in and getting lecture notes.”
Katy Van Lieshout, senior on DU women’s soccer team

11. “The girls do
a great job,
whether it’s
studying at the
airport, on the
bus or on an
airplane.”
Jeff Hooker,
DU women’s soccer
head coach

13. Ciber Field, home of the Denver Pioneers’ women’s soccer team

14. “You need rest, and you have to make a lot of
sacrifices that other students don’t. It is a total,
year-round commitment. You are an athlete for
12 months out of the year.”
Jeff Hooker,
women’s soccer head coach