Inspiration and perseverance can come from the simplest things. For Stephanie Moench, it comes from the Post-it note that reads, “Visualize success” next to her bed.
“This quote goes for both soccer and school,” said Moench. “I always remind myself that if I see myself doing it, then I can most likely do it.”
Growing up in Austin, Texas, Moench was very active in sports since the age of 5.
“I did a lot of sports when I was younger and my mom made me pick one sport, so I picked soccer,” said Moench.
Moench has lived in Florida for the three years of her college career at NSU. She’s a junior exercise and sports science major who hopes to pursue her education in physician assistant school.
“I fell right into place at NSU. The first time I visited, I was not only attracted by the beautiful campus but also by the fact that NSU grew so much over the years,” said Moench.
During her freshman year at NSU, Moench played in all 15 matches and scored two goals. She was also known for her many assists as well as for scoring the game-winning goal in a 3-1 win against Florida Tech. Her sophomore year was also full of accomplishments as she recorded 1,400 minutes of playing time and had two winning assists that same year.
I got the chance to sit down with Moench and ask her a few questions to get to know her a little better.
Do you plan on continuing with soccer after college?
“I plan on going to PA school, and if soccer ends up being something that’s available to me, then why not.”
How would you describe yourself as a player?
“I’m a very team-oriented player. I’ve always been more of a defense player, and the spotlight is never really on defensive players because they don’t score the goals usually. I’m always the player who can help out my team in every way I can.”
What has been your most memorable moment?
“It was during freshman year on our first game when I played as a midfielder. I actually scored and assisted, so that was exciting.”
Do you have any special rituals before games?
“I always put on my left shinguard before my right. I don’t know why, but I think it’s good luck for me.”
Who’s your favorite soccer player?
“I like Lionel Messi. What I like about him is that he’s a team player.”
Who’s your favorite soccer team?
“I like the U.S. Men’s team. I cheered for them this past world cup.”
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
“I always wanted to go to Germany, because I am German, and I heard that it’s beautiful there.”
If you could play another sport NSU, what would you choose?
“If I had the skills to play college level, I would play tennis. I played tennis in high school but I was never really good at it.”
If a movie were to be made about your life, who would you want to play you?
“I don’t know, but I really like Jennifer Aniston.”
How do you celebrate winning?
“By having a nice big meal.”
How do you deal with losing?
“It’s frustrating at first. I like to stay quiet and think about the game, but usually I just like talking to my roommate who’s also on the team. We talk things over and see how we can go on from there and what we can do better next time.”
Is practice harder after losing?
“Not really. We kind of have much better practices after we lose because we have built-up energy and anger and we’re all pumped up. But when we win, we can get into the mindset of ‘We got this’ and not take practice as seriously as we should.”
Did you have a coach who influenced your decision to play soccer in college?
“I always had really good coaches growing up. One of my club coaches got me to play for the high school team where he taught. He influenced me positively. I still get to see him at some of our games, actually, because he moved to Florida.”
How do you balance between soccer and academics?
“It’s really tough, especially during season when practices are really long. As athletes, we usually have to sacrifice time with friends and social life to stay on task with school. I like to get things done early so that they’re not hanging over my head. I manage my time right by writing things down and having reminders on my phone, whatever it takes to get things done.”
