WPIAL Alum Q&A – Maggie Scott

A: It wasn’t easy, but the coaches and my teammates were all very helpful in making this transition. The game itself doesn’t change much, but mentally it is way more tasking and I think that is the hardest part about the transition. Once it came to playing in games, I just did what I have been learning since I started playing when I was four. It comes naturally at this point.   

Q: What is your greatest strength as a player?

A: I think it is my shot, how I strike the ball. 

Q: How was the recruiting process, and what led you to choose Miami University (Ohio)?

A: It was a long process, deciding where to continue my soccer career and if that was even what I wanted to do. But once I made the decision to play in college and I had my option laid out for me, Miami just fell into all of the right categories. When I visited this campus, I just felt at home and it was important for me to be somewhere where just incase soccer ended up not working, I would still enjoy being at this school.  Academically, it has a great reputation to go along with many MAC championship rings, which is always a plus.   

Q: You have battled some injuries this season. What is your health status currently, and how challenging is it both mentally and physically when injuries occur?

A: This season has definitely been a tough one with injuries and it just got a lot more real last weekend against Kent State when I tore my ACL and meniscus.  I have never had an injury that has held me out of playing for as long as this one will, but I know that with all of the doctors, physical therapists and athletic trainers here that I will be back stronger than before. I am getting surgery this coming Thursday, so I am out for this season obviously, but next year I will be back playing. This has been very mentally challenging not being able to play, but the only thing I can focus on now is getting back on the field and keeping my head up.

Q: What is the most challenging aspect of college life?

A: As a student-athlete, the most challenging thing is keeping a good balance of all of the tasks we have going on, especially in season. Classes are always difficult but making sure you can get enough sleep and time to eat right before practice on top of studying can make time management challenging. Trying to keep everything in line in order to play well and get good grades can sometimes catch up to me. 
 
Q: How did you spend your summer? Were you at college mostly, or did you get to come home to Pittsburgh?

A: This past summer I was able to come home for some time and play for my Beadling soccer team again. It was great to have one last run with those girls, winning regionals one last time and making the trip to Nationals again. This coming summer, however, I will be staying at Miami and taking classes and training to catch up and be stronger than before with my knee injury. 

Q: What were some highlights from your experience as an athlete and student at Shady Side Academy?

A: Shady Side Academy definitely helped me prepare for college. It was not as strenuous as college when it comes to athletics, but it was a good stepladder into learning how to manage time. 

Q: What were your emotions and fondest memories of winning the WPIAL championship as a senior?

A: Beating GCC in the WPIAL finals will always be one of my best memories from high school. Competing with rival teams makes games like that so exciting and adds a lot of emotion when it comes to winning as the underdog. There was no better way to end my high school career, with a gold medal.  

Q: Do you follow soccer professionally, and if so, who is your favorite player or team?

A: I’ll watch it when it’s on TV, but I don’t follow it closely enough to have a favorite player or team. 

Q: What is your favorite sport besides soccer to play or watch?

A: To watch I would have to say football, but to play would be ice hockey.  I loved playing for Shady Side when I was in middle school and freshman year of high school, but ultimately had to focus on soccer after that. 

Q: Do you have any superstitions or traditions before a match?

A: I’m not really a superstitious person before matches but I do tend to follow the same routine: listen to music and slowly start thinking about the game before heading out to the field with my team. 

Q: As an engineering major, how difficult have your classes been so far, and how do you find time to balance studies, soccer and personal time?

A: So far, it has not been an easy path to take but I am enjoying most of the classes, which helps. In season, we don’t have much personal time besides off days when we are not traveling, but there is always time for school, and our coaches know that school comes first. 

Q: What is the one thing you do when you need to relief stress?

A: When I’m stressed I usually hang out with my roommates. We sing karaoke or do anything to make us laugh and forget about soccer and school for a little. 

Q: What is your ideal place to vacation? And is it a place you have already been, or one that you want to go to?