By Janelle Davis

 

Former Arlington Soccer player Ellie Simmons is currently a second-semester freshman at the University of Buffalo. Having just finished her first season of college soccer, the versatile Simmons chuckled when asked about her position. “I guess you could call me a defender-slash-midfielder.”

 

Simmons’ first season with Buffalo was an impressive one. From winning Mid-American Conference (MAC) Defensive Player of the Year to playing in the NCAA Tournament, Simmons could not have asked for a better fall. She was second on the team with seven assists (along with two goals). In addition to being named MAC Defensive Player of the Year, she was named First Team All-MAC, tabbed to the MAC All-Freshman Team and earned United Soccer Coaches All-Midwest Region Second Team honors.

 

“I would not have been able to do it without my teammates supporting me,” Simmons said. “Having amazing players around you makes you look really good.”

 

Simmons noted that there were many deserving defensive players both on her team and in her conference, so she was pleasantly surprised to have won the title.

 

Simmons, an exercise science major, finds the biggest challenge of collegiate athletics to be managing her schedule. In addition, Simmons, who is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, attends church three times a week.

 

“You are a student-athlete. So, you have to manage practice, classes, treatment, lifting, sleep, and social life,” she said.

 

Despite the challenges of being a student-athlete, Simmons’ transition to college athletics was made easier by the unconditional support of her team. She did not feel any of the standard hierarchical pressures that come from being a freshman among upperclassmen. From her first day, Simmons was welcomed with open arms and made to feel part of the team. She was grateful for this warm welcome, as it allowed her to focus on playing and getting better without any social stressors.

 

Before she was playing Division I soccer, Simmons was building her technical skills with Arlington Soccer. An Arlington Soccer player since she was 6 years old, Simmons reminisced about moving up through the ranks of recreation, travel and, finally, the ECNL programs. She spoke fondly of Director of Coaching Mo Tayari, her coach of four years, and the person Simmons credits with developing her into the player she is today.

 

“He saw my potential and helped me reach it,” said Simmons of Tayari. Mike Woods, another of Simmons’ Arlington coaches, was also a key mentor for the young player, teaching her “the importance of fundamentals and building strong foundations.”

 

Simmons spoke with nostalgia about her numerous years at Arlington Soccer, and the lifelong friendships she made throughout. That she was able to learn and grow alongside a core group of teammates is something Simmons greatly treasures about her experience.

 

In light of my conversation with Simmons falling on International Women’s Day, I asked what being a woman in sports means to her.

 

“It’s awesome," she said. "I love getting to see other girls do what they love, and getting to do it myself.”

 

Simmons is close with many of her school’s female athletes across various sports. Despite Simmons’ hope and appreciation for what women’s sports are today, she noted the relative lack of attendance at women’s soccer games in comparison to men’s games.

 

Attendance, however, was not an issue when the Buffalo women’s soccer team played in the Mid-American Conference championship this past fall. It was an amazing experience for the first-year Simmons, who proudly informed me that virtually the entire study body was present to support the team as they beat Ball State 2-0 in the title game. Simmons describes the energy and excitement of the game as feeling surreal. It is certainly a memory she will cherish for years to come.

 

“My favorite part of playing collegiate soccer,” Simmons said, “is probably that you meet your best friends for life. You get to do something you love with people who also love doing it. You get to experience the highs and lows with all of your teammates.”

 

Simmons continued with a laugh, “luckily, this season was full of highs.”