Playing soccer in the deep south was life-changing for Carrissa Rossi.
Rossi, a 2008 graduate of D.P. Todd secondary school, spent four seasons with the University of Central Arkansas Bears, a Division 1 team in the NCAA. Her time in the UCA women's soccer program came to an end in late October and she's now putting the finishing touches on a degree in business administration management.
"It's been such an amazing experience and I'm so happy I was able to come here and play university Division 1 soccer and meet the people that I've met," the 22-year-old Rossi said from the UCA campus, located in Conway, Ark. "All the experiences and the travel, I wouldn't have been able to see as much as I've seen if I didn't come here and play. It's been great and being able to get a degree and do well in school, that's an added bonus."
Rossi, just five-foot-two but fierce as a defender, was a long-serving team captain for the Bears and helped them make 2012 their most successful season to date in Division 1. Their goal was to qualify for the Southland Conference championship tournament for the first time in their seven-year Div. 1 history and they fell just one win short of their objective.
On Oct. 26, in the last game of the regular season, the Bears dropped a 2-1 double overtime decision to the Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles and that agonizing result kept them out of the tournament.
"It was a disappointing ending," said Rossi, a Prince George Youth Soccer Association product who was recruited by the Bears straight out of high school. "We played really well against everyone in our conference and ended up having a tough loss. It was really sad. It was Senior Day, so out of all the games, you want to win on those days but we just couldn't get it."
Overall (conference and non-conference games), the Bears compiled a 10-7-1 record and were actually ranked No. 1 in the country in the early stages of the season. In Southland Conference play, they went 2-5-1.
In their 18 games, the Bears outscored their opponents 43-17. Offensively, they were fueled by junior forward Adriana Lucar, a Peru-born player who transferred from Harding University prior to the season. Lucar struck for 14 goals, the second-highest total in the history of the program. She also finished the year with 16 assists and was named a first-team all-star in the conference.
Rossi's own season was shortened by an old injury that flared up. She had surgery on her right ankle last December, hurt the joint early in the Bears' schedule, and was sidelined for four games.
"I had to sit out for a little bit and then get back into it so it was a bit up and down," she said. "But for the most part I was happy I was able to push through it and do what I was able to do."
Rossi's final year with the Bears was different from the previous three because she didn't have twin sister Corey as a teammate. Corey started her UCA career one semester sooner, so she completed her eligibility last season.
"I pretty much talked to her every single day," Rossi said. "It was pretty much like she was here and she came and visited for my senior day. She was here for over a week so it's been easier than I thought, being apart this semester, but I definitely wish I could have shared some of the experiences with her."
Since soccer ended, Rossi has been focusing on her studies and will write her last exam on Dec. 13. Life as a "normal student" has been a little strange for her.
"I didn't realize how much time people have," she said with a chuckle. "Here I am, just hanging out, doing things that normal students do, and I never realized how different it was. In previous years, we'd have a month break [from soccer] before Christmas but you'd still be working out. I'm still running and working out but it's different working out for leisure than working out for training."
As for the future, Rossi plans to spend some time at home with her family in the new year. She and Corey would also like to take a trip to Europe, but starting her career is a priority as well.
"I'll probably apply for some jobs and focus on doing some interviews and save up a little bit so I can travel," she said. "So I'll either start work, or, my other option would be to get a masters degree right away but I'm not quite sure which route I'm going to go yet."
