Ashburn, Va. — Broad Run High School senior Sophia Roche has made a commitment to Washington and Lee University to further her academic and athletic career, starting in the 2019-2020 academic year.
“I chose Washington and Lee because of the rigorous academics and the community’s honor system: everyone is accountable for themselves and their work,” Roche said. “I also love the balance offered between academics and sports, as the professors at W&L are very understanding of student-athletes’ conflicts. Everyone supports one another.”
[adrotate banner=”29″]The 5-foot-7 forward is joining a Division III Generals team that went 9-5-2 overall in 2018, including a 6-3-1 mark in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, before falling to Lynchburg in a conference quarterfinal.
“I believe I can add to the team’s offense, as I am not afraid to take people one-on-one, and my speed and strength will be important in making the transition to the college game easier,” Roche said. “Also, I will be adding my strong work ethic to a team that is already incredibly dedicated.”
Before heading to Washington and Lee, Roche has one final season left at Broad Run. The Spartans have struggled to get rolling this spring, dropping their first three games, the first two by just a goal each.
“I have formed so many meaningful relationships with the people here, on and off the field, that have impacted me in so many ways, and I hope they remain strong in the future,” said Roche, who was named second team all-district in 2018. “My time at Broad Run has allowed me to grow and challenge myself. My time here has helped me find out who I truly am and what I am truly passionate about and helped me find those who want to support that.”
Some of the best support Roche receives is from her family, as she truly understands how valuable they have been to her soccer career.
“My father, sister, and brother shaped me into who I am today and had unrelenting faith in me when I doubted my abilities or when I had health issues,” Roche said. “Both my family and my friends have also supported all my decisions through this process. They believed in me through both good and bad times and wanted nothing but the best for me. I’m where I am because of them.”
Soccer means more to Roche than just a sport. For her, it is a chance to break away for the world, and for her to disappear into something that she loves.
“I play soccer because it’s my passion; it’s the one thing I truly love to do,” Roche said. “When I play, everything else goes away, and it’s the only thing on my mind. I love the feeling that follows scoring a goal, the time it allows me to spend with close friends, and just going out there and enjoying the game. At the end of the day, it’s all about having fun.”
