NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Connecticut College community has been fortunate to have an outstanding group of more than 100 senior student-athletes who have represented the institution with class, respect, and sportsmanship in competition as well as a variety of other ways.
Over the upcoming weeks, we will take a look at the Class of 2020's overall experience at Connecticut College as a student, athlete, and citizen; what being a student-athlete at the institution has meant, and what lessons they will take with them into the real world following graduation.
Today, our fourth team spotlight will highlight and celebrate the nine seniors of the women's soccer program. We spoke with head coach Norm Riker about the group as well the seniors themselves about their overall experience at Connecticut College over the past four years.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW A WOMEN'S SOCCER PHOTO GALLERY OF TEAM MEMORIES
Women's Soccer Class of 2020
Amelia Andrews (Fairfield, Conn./Fairfield Warde) – Economics & Psychology Double Major
Emily Angeli (South Kingstown, R.I./The Prout School) – Economics Major
Kelly Brigham (Norwich, Vt./Hanover) – Molecular Cell Biology Major
Alyssa Kogelmann (Guilderland, N.Y./Guilderland) – Economics Major
Sara Kogelmann (Guilderland, N.Y./Guilderland) – Economics Major
Erin O'Brien Powers (Captain) (Portland, Ore./Jesuit) – Behavioral Neuroscience Major
Mia Santana (New London, Conn./New London) – Human Development Major
Zoe Stublarec (Captain) (Rockfall, Conn./Choate Rosemary Hall) – Behavioral Neuroscience Major
Sarah Williams (Sherborn, Mass./Dover-Sherborn) – Biology Major
Head Coach Norm Riker on the Class of 2020
"Nine seniors, four winning seasons, two trips to the NCAA tournament, and one amazing team-first mentality! However, the legacy of this class has been forged not by numbers and results, but by how hard they work, how much they care, and the non-negotiable love for their program!"
Below are questions we asked the seniors as well as their answers about their personal experiences at Connecticut College as student-athletes over the past four years.
Q: Why did You Choose to Attend Connecticut College?
Amelia: I was not sure what I wanted to major in going into college, so I thought it would be best to go to a strong liberal arts school that would allow me to try every subject to see what would be best for me. I also wanted to play soccer in a competitive league.
Emily: I wanted a small liberal arts school where I could get a good education while also being able to continue playing soccer. I really loved the campus, and Conn was also a perfect location by being located only 45 minutes away from home.
Kelly: I wanted a college where I could be challenged both athletically and academically. In addition, I wanted a place that felt like home and had a strong sense of community.
Alyssa: For soccer and the academics.
Sara: I chose to attend Connecticut College because of the strong balance between academics and athletics.
Erin: On an academic level, I chose Connecticut College because I knew I would be academically challenged and also have the opportunity to get to know my professors. Athletically, I chose Connecticut College because I loved the culture of the women's soccer team and wanted to compete in a competitive conference.
Mia: I am been on the campus regularly since high school because I am from New London. I have always felt the connection and community on the campus, and that's what drove me to attend.
Zoë: It was close to home, the program just won a NESCAC championship, Norm Riker is nice, and the players were nice to me when I visited.
Sarah: I loved the idea of having a liberal arts experience, a beautiful campus, and the ability to compete in the NESCAC.
Q: What is your favorite Camel athletic moment?
Amelia: My favorite Camel athletic moment was when we won our first NCAA game against Scranton in penalty kicks our freshman year. Everyone who dressed for the match ran to the rest of our teammates who could not dress, and we celebrated together as a team.
Emily: Beating Scranton in PKs. The celebration after the game with the team was one of the best moments ever.
Sara: My favorite Camel athletic moment was scoring the game-winning goal against Amherst during our sophomore year.
Note: To read a recap of the match Sara was describing, please click here.
Mia: My favorite Camel athletic moment is when we beat Middlebury during our freshman year. The excitement from my teammates as well as the crowd made me love how much we all support each other. The odds were against us, and with everyone rooting for our program, we beat a very good team.
Sarah: Our first NESCAC game against Middlebury as freshmen.
Q: What does #OneCamel mean to you?
Amelia: To me, #OneCamel means that we all win and lose together. We all play for one team at Conn.
Emily: #OneCamel to me means that as an athletic program we all support each other on and off the field, whether it be attending different sporting events or helping each other in the classroom as well.
Kelly: When any team succeeds, we all succeed and are sharing that accomplishment as a school.
Alyssa: Supporting other athletes.
Sara: #OneCamel means to come together as an athletics community.
Erin: It means that all of the student-athletes support each other.
Mia: #OneCamel means that no matter who we are our what sport we play, we are all fighting and supporting each other. The motto that I believe really speaks to #OneCamel is "When one Camel wins, we all win."
Fun Fact: Head women's soccer coach Norm Riker first used the words "One Camel" together after the women's soccer program won the school's first NESCAC championship in any sport in 2014. He said, "When one Camel wins, we all win."
Zoë: We all represent the school and support each other.
Sarah: Especially during these difficult times, #OneCamel means that through the best and worst of times, we are all one community.
Q: What do your teammates mean to you?
Amelia: My teammates mean everything and are like a second family to me.
Emily: My teammates are my best friends. Having such a big team like ours creates a great family and friendships that will last a lifetime.
Kelly: They are family.
Alyssa: They are my support system.
Mia: My teammates are family. We have supported each other when we are doing well and have been there for one another when we are not.
Sarah: They have been a constant support system that pushes us all to be our best.
Q: What is your favorite team memory?
Amelia: Our time in the locker room together before games. We always shared the same mindset, stayed focused, and had fun while getting each other pumped up to win.
Emily: My favorite team memory was our road win against Colby this year. We all worked as a team to come from behind and beat Colby, 2-1, on their own field.
Note: To read a recap about the match Emily was describing, please click here.
Kelly: When we beat Middlebury for our first NESCAC win during our freshman year.
Alyssa: Advancing to the NCAA Tournament twice.
Sara: My favorite team memory is going to the NCAA Tournament.
Erin: When our bus broke down after a practice at Dartmouth. Before being shuttled over for our team dinner in groups, we kept everything positive by having a dance party in the parking lot.
Mia: When we played against Colby and came back to win during our senior year.
Zoë: Defeating Scranton in PKs at the NCAA Tournament in 2016.
Sarah: When our bus broke down at Dartmouth. We still had a beautiful team dinner that night.
Q: What is the best thing about being in the NESCAC?
Amelia: The best thing about being in the NESCAC is that it is a tough, competitive league which also supports being able to put our academics first.
Emily: The fact that academics are placed as a priority along with sports. Coaches and professors are extremely accommodating to any conflicts you may have.
Kelly: Every game feels like a playoff game. It is such an honor to play in the top Division III sports conference in the country.
Sara: The best thing about being in the NESCAC is the strong balance between academics and athletics.
Zoë: Every game is competitive.
Q: Describe the greatest part of your Connecticut College experience outside of being on the women's soccer team.
Amelia: The greatest part of my experience at Conn outside of being on the women's soccer team is the friends I have made. I have met so many amazing people here, and I will continue these friendships for the rest of my life.
Emily: The greatest part of my Conn experience outside of athletics are the friends that I have made and the tight-knit community that Conn provides to each of its students.
Kelly: Walking to class every day. The campus is beautiful.
Alyssa: The friends that I have made.
Sara: The greatest part of my Connecticut College experience outside of being on an athletic team was the opportunity I had to study abroad for a semester in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Erin: Being on a beautiful campus.
Mia: The sense of community I feel when I am on campus. Everyone is welcome on campus regardless of who you are and what you look like, and that's what makes me enjoy being here.
Sarah: I enjoyed playing in the orchestra at Conn and getting to perform in the spring concerts.
Q: Describe a research project or presentation you had the opportunity to work on as a student at Connecticut College.
Emily: During my sophomore year, I completed a project in my advanced regression techniques course about the long-term effects concussions can have and how likely someone could get CTE depending on the number of concussions they suffered while playing youth sports.
Kelly: In my education course, I had the opportunity to design my own week-long lesson plan for a potential high school science class. I focused on incorporating high school level biology concepts as well as putting a big emphasis on ethical issues as well as highlighting important women in science. I later used this lesson plan in my summer internship as a student teacher at St. Paul's School.
Alyssa: In Macroeconomics, we presented on the economy of another country.
Erin: I was part of Professor Moher's research team during the summer and studied the effects of alerts on distraction. I also presented a poster at the all-college symposium about the effects of health on the homeless.
Zoë: I worked on a research project with Professor Schroeder on addiction in rats and a potential drug to reduce the side effects of withdrawal.
Sarah: My honors thesis is probably the research project I am most proud of. It is the genetic analysis of DDT resistance and behavior in two populations of Drosophila melanogaster, and I maintained a strenuous lab schedule while being in season during the fall. I look forward to finishing my report and hopefully having the data published through my advisor, Professor Barnes.
Q: What has been your favorite class?
Amelia: Psychological Statistics. It was nice getting to combine my two majors by incorporating some statistics and more math related work into psychology.
Emily: My favorite class has been Contemporary Issues in Sports because it allowed us to connect our experience as student-athletes to current events happening in the sports world today.
Kelly: Human Anatomy. I loved learning all the intricate details of the human body, and at the end, we did a big presentation on the terrible triad injury of tearing your ACL, LCL, and medial meniscus. It was very interesting to learn the science behind it and how to repair this type of injury from the point of view of being a student-athlete.
Alyssa: Microeconomics because Professor Stelzmer always made the material being taught to us interesting.
Sara: My favorite class has been International Economics because it was interesting and challenging.
Erin: Sociology of Health. It inspired me to pursue a career in medicine.
Mia: My math and science elementary education class. It changed the way I view myself as an individual and as a teacher. I used to believe that math and science were only for certain people. But after taking this class, I learned that math and science are for everyone, and I hope I can teach that to my students regardless of who they are or where they come from in the future.
Zoë: Anatomy and Physiology because I feel it will be very applicable for me down the line.
Sarah: Logic. It was a philosophy class that was totally outside of my box, but it was also a breath of fresh air outside of my heavy course load in STEM.
Q: Who has been your favorite professor?
Amelia: My favorite professor at Conn has been Professor Marshall. She sparked my love of psychology, and I really liked the way she taught the class. She also still remembers me even though I have not had a class with her since my freshman year. This is something I find very special. She still says hi to me when we pass each other on campus.
Emily: My favorite professor is Professor Stelzner, an economics professor, because he really took the time to answer any questions. He was very benefical to have as my academic advisor as well.
Kelly: Professor Eastman. She is a teacher I hope to emulate in the future as she presents the information for a course in many different ways to keep a class engaged. Labs are easy to follow, and she always has a positive attitude.
Alyssa: Warren Johnson because he has always been very supportive and helpful.
Sara: My favorite professor has been Professor Stelzner. He was my economics advisor, and I really enjoyed taking his classes.
Erin: Professor Moher. He is very engaging and takes time to think of ways to keep class interesting.
Mia: Professor Sheth in the education department. She was a new professor during the fall of our senior year, but she completely changed the way I thought about teaching and how I viewed myself as a teacher. She taught me that teaching is more than a profession. It is about educating children in a way that pushes them to be both better learners and individuals. I am very grateful for her wisdom, and I hope that my teaching reflects what she has taught me in the one class I had with her.
Zoë: Professor Schroeder because he challenged me and also encouraged me to participate, which is something I have initially been uncomfortable with in my classes.
Sarah: Professor Schneider, my biochemistry professor. Her lectures are concise and extremely helpful, her exams are incredibly fair, and she's got a great demeanor with her students. Professor Schneider, if you see this, you're the best!
Q: Name an individual who has been the most influential and supportive of you at any point during your four years at Connecticut College.
Amelia: An individual who has been the most influential and supportive o me during my four years at Conn is John Lehet, our goalie coach. He has always been so kind and supportive of me throughout my four years at Conn, which includes giving me advice on and off the field, helping with schoolwork, or just having conversations about what is going on in our lives. I truly respect him as a person and valued each and every moment I got to spend with him.
Emily: Our assistant coach, John Lehet, has been one of the most supportive people of me during my time at Connecticut College. He always made a point to cheer me on during a good game, and he also made sure to provide me with feedback and push me to work even harder.
Kelly: Lisa Vogeley, our head women's lacrosse coach here at Conn. She is the best coach I have ever had. She came to all of our soccer games and motivated me to become the best individual and athlete possible. She is very motivated and driven, and I hope to be a coach like her one day. She always checked in on my social and academic life as well.
Note: Kelly is a dual sport athlete who is also a member of the women's lacrosse team at Connecticut College.
Alyssa: My dad has been very supportive of me during my time at Connecticut College. He encourages me when things aren't going my way and celebrates every accomplishment with me.
Sara: My dad has been the most influential and supportive of me during my four years at Connecticut College. My dad showed up at my soccer games and supported me in my academics.
Erin: Zoë Stublarec. Not only did we get each other through an 8 a.m. chemistry class during our sophomore year, but she was also my support through soccer. Being co-captains with her, she constantly pushed me to be better while also keeping me grounded. I couldn't have done it without her!
Mia: Professor Anderson. She believed in me and pushed me to be the best person I can be. She has also supported me throughout the entire process of my education certification. Professor Anderson pushed me to be my best self, provided constructive criticism when needed, and praised me when I did something well. I look up to her and her passion for teaching every day, and I hope that one day I can be as good of a teacher as she is today.
Zoë: Analisse Rios, our assistant coach. She has always been there for me.
Sarah: My advisor, Pam Hine. She always encourages me when I am feeling overwhelmed and not performing at my best. I will never forget the kindness and patience she has shown me, and I hope our friendship continues to grow past graduation.
Q: What is the greatest lesson you have learned from being a student-athlete at Connecticut College?
Amelia: I have learned so many different lessons from being a student-athlete. It has taught me discipline, respect, and so many other characteristics that have helped me grow as a person that will help me with the rest of my life.
Emily: One of the greatest lessons I have learned from being a student-athlete at Conn is that you have to put in the work to not only improve yourself, but to also improve your team as a whole.
Kelly: Don't think happiness will come from your end goal. Find your happiness in the process of reaching that goal. If you enjoy what you do every day and be the best you can be every day, you will find happiness and reach your goal.
Alyssa: I have learned the value of hard work and how to overcome adversity.
Sara: The greatest lesson I learned as a student-athlete is to persevere through adversity.
Erin: Things don't always go the way you want them to. You still have to move on.
Mia: To focus on the present. Focusing on the present, and not what happened yesterday, has allowed me to be successful in both sports and school. I will use this lesson when I graduate and start teaching.
Zoë: Time management.
Sarah: Mental toughness and grit. There are no excuses. If you want something, you have to earn it.
Q: What are your career goals and plans for after graduation?
Amelia: I will be working in Stamford, Connecticut as a conference associate for Gartner in Conference Production.
Emily: I will be working as a US Wealth Advisory Analyst at BlackRock in Princeton, New Jersey after graduation.
Kelly: To become a teacher, coach, or health care provider. I would like to pursue a career which involves helping others.
Alyssa: I will be working at J.P. Morgan in New York City after graduation. I also plan on going to business school.
Sara: After graduation, I will be working at Fitch Ratings, a credit rating agency, in New York City.
Erin: I plan to apply to medical school in May.
Mia: I would like to be a teacher in an elementary school in New London.
Zoë: I will be taking a gap year and then apply to nursing school.
Sarah: I plan to take the MCAT in September, complete research, and attend medical school in the fall of 2022.
Be sure to check back with www.camelathletics.com over the upcoming weeks as we continue to highlight and celebrate the senior student-athletes in the Class of 2020 as well as the positive experiences they have had at Connecticut College over the last four years.
