Inspired by her father, Sophia Backstrom joined the UCA women’s soccer team.

From Parker, Colorado, Backstrom decided to call UCA her home due to the “environment of UCA.”

“After watching the soccer, I fell in love with not only the players but also the coaches,” Backstrom said. “Everyone is so nice and encouraging here. I love the girls. I love playing here.”

Backstrom said the culture of the team is the “best part” and that is an “important” aspect to her. 

“Coming in and actually seeing that come to life, and after the first practice, already feeling like a family with those girls was so amazing. It made me feel like I chose the right place because of the culture and community,” Backstrom said.

Backstrom said she began playing the sport as a child after being inspired by her father who played college soccer.

“When I was little, I wanted to be like him. So I started playing soccer when I was like three or four and just started through that,” she said.

Backstrom said she takes inspiration from her teammates junior forward Nina Mazzola and senior forward Anna Kerr.

Backstrom said, “As I’ve grown it has been different people throughout different phases of playing, but mostly teammates are who I aspire to be like.”

Backstrom said soccer has helped her develop life skills.

“It has helped me understand scheduling and how to manage the important things in your life, and it also has helped with relationships a lot,” Backstrom said. “I think that I’ve learned how to manage working with other people and dealing with conflict, as well as getting past conflict in the best possible way to get the best possible outcome.”

She said soccer has helped her academic success due to the skills she has developed. 

“It’s these easy techniques that you learn from having to get to practice, getting yourself to these places and being responsible for yourself from such a young place and a young perspective, and then coming into these classes and understanding that you’re responsible for your own success,” she said. 

Backstrom said her personal goals for the semester include taking the opportunity to “play for myself and love it.”

She said she is looking forward to playing with her team this season.

“I’m so excited to start playing conference games with these girls because it has been so fun to practice with them and play a few games with them,” Backstrom said. “Then also just getting to know more of the culture of the school as a whole, through classes and everything, and getting to know other people.”

In her free time, Backstrom travels and spends time with her friends. 

Backstrom said wants to study abroad.

“I love travel. I travel all over the place,” said Backstrom. “I want to go somewhere that’s French-speaking, so maybe like Amsterdam. I was going to minor in French, but I know French.”

Backstrom took French classes throughout high school, but decided to major in “something more helpful for law.”