Tucson, ARIZ. - Junior Gabi Stoian didn't always want to play soccer. Before her record breaking career with the Arizona Wildcats she was actually very tentative about playing the beautiful game.
"My dad was a dancer and he wanted me to do that," said Stoian. "I was really shy as a kid though, so I didn't want to do that. My brother played soccer so I was always out at his games and practices watching him. Halfway through one season, I decided that I wanted to play."
Since then Stoian has built herself into one of Arizona Soccer's most decorated players. In 2014, she earned All-Pac-12 Second Team honors and was a two-time Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week. In 2015, she was named to the All-Pac-12 First Team and the NSCAA All-Pacific Region First team. Stoian describes her work… a little more modestly than that.
"My job is to help the team win," said Stoian. "Whether that's as a forward or an attacking midfielder, it's my job to score as many goals and get as many assists as I can."
This is Stoian's third year with the team and head coach Tony Amato. Amato has turned the Arizona Soccer program into one of Arizona's best, giving his team three winning records and a few runs into the NCAA Tournament.
"Tony is always watching video and always giving us the best advice and the best tips," said Stoian. "He knows how to beat other teams through changing our formation or our set plays. He puts a lot of thought into it and it shows on the field. It's fun to play for coach."
This season has given the Wildcats a 5-2-1 record so far, with Arizona going 5-1-1 since their season opening loss to Pepperdine.
"This season has taken us a few games to get used to each other and know each other's style," said Stoian. "We have adjusted and from here we can continue to win games. The team's goal is to make the tournament. We want to make a run in the tournament and see how far we can get."
But first things first, Arizona takes on USC this Friday. USC has their own shutout streak of six straight matches and has scored 15 goals in those matches.
"USC is a good team it will definitely be a fight for us. We haven't played Pac-12 teams yet so it will be good for us to see that especially our freshmen. We have performed against other teams and if we are able to execute we can succeed. It's the start of Pac-12, but I don't think my role will change much. I need to have the confidence to go at players and find that open space, face up, dribble at them and get more shots off. If you don't shoot you can't score."
A big part of the Wildcats' success this season has been the atmosphere at home games. The Arizona Soccer team believes that their crowd has an effect on the team's performance. Stoian's favorite part?
"Friday night games under the lights," she said. "We've gotten more fans every year because Tony has done a great job advertising that. I love when there's a big crowd and a lot of noise. My dad comes to almost every game along with my brother."
Now it's your turn to Experience It Yourself at Arizona's home matches this season. You can pick up tickets at ArizonaWildcats.com or purchase tickets at the door.
The Arizona Wildcats continue their regular season this weekend in Los Angeles, Calif. when they play USC on Friday at 3 p.m. on the Pac-12 Networks.
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