What drives the decision to attend a specific college? Is it the academic program, the balance with extra-curricular activities, the opportunities available following graduation? For students who want to play sports on the college level, perhaps it is the coaching staff, the success of the program, the future teammates, the environment around the program.
 
Eight alumni took the opportunity to explain why they chose the University of Rochester as the perfect place for them to study and to compete for the women's soccer program.. They discussed a favorite memory from their playing days, recalled academic courses and professors whom they valued highly, and revealed how their professional careers have gone since completing their degree.
 
These are the women who answered. The list includes the alum's class and her undergraduate major(s): Allyssa Abel '13 '14M (Neuroscience, Masters in Public Health), Alison Collins Antony '04, (Religion and Classics [double major]), Stephanie Diebold MD '10 (Biology and Spanish [double major]), Christina Feller '19 (Neuroscience and Psychology [double major]), Bridget Lang Findlay MD '13 (Biochemistry), Jorie Freitag '20 (Brain & Cognitive Science), Gwen Haffenden '20 (Mind, Body, and Movement), Mary Martha Winter McKenna '90, '95M (Psychology, MS Counseling – Warner School).
 
Why Rochester As A College Choice?
Allyssa (Ally) Abel '13: A plethora of opportunities to develop your curiosity and grow as a leader! I not only enjoyed playing soccer on the women's varsity team, but I also enjoyed serving on the executive board of the River Campus Medical Emergency Response Team, conducting my own research and completing my senior honors thesis at the medical center across the street, and collaborating with medical students to establish Grassroot Rochester as a fully-recognized student organization. This all goes to show that if you have a specific interest, I am confident you will find ways of satisfying it at Rochester.
 
Alison Collins Antony '04: I was drawn to the U of R, in part, because of the curriculum that allowed me to take "clusters" of classes in different areas of study that interested me, rather than having to take a load of required courses that did not.  In addition, I wanted to play soccer at a college that had a strong team and a competitive schedule, but where academics were the priority, so Rochester was a great fit.
 
Dr. Stephanie Diebold '10:  I wanted to experience something different than Texas. I wanted to play soccer and I wanted to go to a good pre-med school. I could accomplish all 3 of those things at UR. 

 

Christina Feller '19:  For me, Rochester was the perfect blend of athletics and academics. When I first stepped foot on campus for a soccer camp, I knew it was where I belonged. The current players were very welcoming, and I could see myself being their teammates one day. Similarly, my coach, Sike (Dardaganis), was incredibly compassionate and genuine; I found comfort knowing that if I moved from the Midwest to New York, there was someone there I could trust and would always look out for me.  On top of that, the school is known for its academic excellence, especially in medicine and research. Right from the start, I found my way into working in neuroscience research. I was able to hold a student job and built even more relationships while helping out with concussion testing for all student athletes. Rochester was a dream come true. I was able to gain a second family in New York all while playing the sport I love and preparing myself for medical school.
 
Dr. Bridget Lang Findlay '13: From the moment I set foot on campus, I felt like a part of the Rochester family. As someone who was interested in pursuing medicine down the road, I was drawn to the opportunities for research and shadowing over at the Medical Center, which is a short walk from the River Campus. I also appreciated the flexible cluster curriculum to explore other disciplines outside of my chosen major. Finally, I knew that I would be a part of a soccer program with a rich history of success both on and off the field. Altogether, Rochester was the perfect fit for me in terms of my personal academic and athletic goals.
 
Jorie Freitag '20: Multiple reasons, at first it was because I was interested in music therapy and Rochester's close affiliation with Eastman School of Music! They also had a soccer program that I fell in love with on my visit and a very strong academic reputation. Later, when I switched to pre-med I discovered I was at the perfect place as Rochester is located right next to a Medical Center and Hospital where I could work throughout college.
 
Gwen Haffenden '20: Rochester initially drew my attention because of the high level of academics and soccer. What sealed the deal for me in choosing U of R was the welcoming and empowering feeling I felt from the moment I stepped on campus. The entire Rochester community and especially the athletic community is there to challenge and support you in the best way possible. The confidence I gained from my teammates and coaches from URWS (UR Women's Soccer), the athletic department, and academic community is something unparalleled. In just four years at U of R, I experienced an incredible amount of social support and just the right amount of challenging experiences that have made me more confident, accepting and knowledgeable in my interactions. I could have never imagined the experiences that I had during my time at U of R and with URWS when choosing a college but I knew from the few hours I visited campus for the first time that it was the right place for me.
 
Mary Martha Winter McKenna '90, '95M: Rochester was the most rigorous school academically, where I would surely be challenged and I had the opportunity to play soccer for the likes of Terry Gurnett. He surely topped the bar for coaches you could play for.
 
Your Best Athletic Memory Playing for UR?

Abel:  It's funny. I don't necessarily remember the hours and hours I spent on the soccer field. I remember the valuable sports psychology sessions, the pre-game hype-ups in the locker room, the hugs and high-fives. I'd have to say, though, that my favorite memories include our early-morning lifting session in the varsity weight room (specifically our push-up and pull-up competitions ha ha), the free skills clinics we organized for families in the Rochester community, and our pre-season trip to Mykonos, Greece together.
 
Collins Antony: At the end of pre-season my freshman year, Terry (Gurnett) approached me and asked if I wanted to be a four-year starter.  It was an amazing feeling to know that Terry was so confident in my skills and work ethic.  It really was a dream come true, and motivated me to no end.  I strove to always play my best, work to be better, and push my teammates to be their best.  I was determined to never let Terry down, or give him cause to doubt his decision.
 
Another memory I cherish is seeing my Grandparents in the stands at every home game and close away game, rain, snow, or shine.  Since my parents lived in Colorado and, therefore, were not able to attend many games, it meant a lot to me to have my Grandparents in the stands.
 
Dr. Diebold: Being a part of something that was bigger than yourself. Having an automatic network of friends and support. 
 
Feller: By far my favorite memory at the U of R was when our URWS team made it to the NCAA tournament in 2018, my senior year. Our team worked so hard to get to that point and it was great to see it all pay off in the end. I also loved all of our team road trips – so being on the road one last time was surreal. It was the icing on the cake; a perfect way to finish my career as a college athlete.
 
Dr. Lang Findlay: Beating William Smith 2-1 at home in 2010, which was especially meaningful because it was Terry Gurnett's last season as head coach. William Smith was always one of our toughest opponents, and this game was a hard fought defensive battle. I can still picture our team storming the field at the end of the game, and the rush of excitement when Ellen Coleman '12 scored the game winning goal with under 10min left in the game.
 
Freitag: Probably my senior day last November, all of my family flew out to watch me play one last home game on Fauver's field and we ended up beating Brandeis in overtime 3-2 that day - it always feels good to beat Brandeis! Although when we beat #1 ranked William Smith my junior year 2-1 that was pretty iconic as well!
 

Haffenden: I had to choose two because they are too many to choose just one. First, beating Wash U 3-1 during my freshman year because they went on to win the national championship that year. Second, beating Brandeis in an overtime thriller my senior year on senior night and celebrating in classic URWS fashion with a dog pile!
 
Winter McKenna: How do you pin down one? It may have started as a pre-frosh at D-Day…or was it playing with upper classmen legends like Mary Knoll, Maura McGinnity, Jill McCabe, and Jill Decker to name a few. Athletic memories…does that mean it has to be on the field? Oops, yes.  Hail the size of golf balls at Case Western, will stay with me.  Winning two national championships was pretty cool, to say the least. Careening into an 8 point buck on our way to our third hunt for the crown, that was something. 
 
However, my favorite memories may legitimately boil down to the center circle.  Like any other day, the team took a lap or two and met at the 50-yard line. The captains got us started, and we waited a few for Coach…he was on Terry Time. 
 
 I am so sorry, sister Maureen.  At your expense, we shared some good laughs, not at you, but at your brother, Terry's terrible fat jokes. Seriously.  Needless to say, this was in the 80's. "My sister Mo, is so fat…."   "How fat is she Terry? "(eyes rolling) Come to find out, Maureen was not fat at all.  It was traditions like this, that made memories for me. Ask any athlete. It's the camaraderie, and relationships that endure, and sure, the scoreboard now and then. 
 
Favorite Classes or Professors?
Abel: I whimsically enrolled in Public Health 101 taught by Dr. Nancy Chin during my junior year at Rochester. Little did I know this course would change the trajectory of my life. Dr. Chin introduced me to public health frameworks and the concept of "social determinants of health." Instead of applying straight into medical school as I had always envisioned, I decided to go to graduate school to learn more about things like healthcare accessibility and food insecurity. Now that I'm a doctor-in-training, I am so thankful I have this foundational understanding of what really affects human health and wellness.
 
Collins Antony: I loved taking classes with Professor Brooks in the Religion and Classics Department.  He is the type of professor that keeps class interesting, surprises you, and makes you love learning. 
 

Dr. Diebold: I enjoyed them all. Enjoyed being a TA and working closely with Dr. Platt (biochem) and Dr. Jack Werren (animal behavior). Enjoyed the intimacy of smaller classes with my Spanish major with Dr. Prendergast and Dr. Rodriguez-Hernandez.
 
Feller: I don't think I could pick one favorite class because I love all of my neuroscience courses. I know some schools don't offer neuroscience as a major, but I had the privilege to dive deep into the material. I was even able to perform "neurosurgery" on a rat in our neuroscience lab with one of the men's soccer players and then T-A that same course the following year.
 
Dr. Lang Findlay: My favorite class at U of R was "Writing and Reporting the News", which pushed me to explore different styles of writing. The class was quite interactive, and involved various opportunities to immerse myself in both the greater Rochester and campus communities.
 
Freitag: I LOVED Organic Chemistry and returned to TA the class twice! Both when I took the class and TAed for it, it was taught by Dr. Benjamin Hafensteiner who is just absolutely incredible and his instruction really gave me the confidence to pursue a career in medicine. I also loved my neuroscience courses with Dr. Kevin Davis, he is the most engaging professor I've ever had and I loved all four classes I was able to take with him. My favorite class overall was probably Religion and Violence with Professor Anne Merideth, she made the material feel so relevant and applicable to our world today - if you have the opportunity to take a class with her you should do it!
 
Haffenden: Anne Wilcox was my favorite professor who also happened to teach my favorite class! She taught Anatomy and Kinesiology which was my favorite because it was a small class where we actively learned, meaning we learned a topic about the body or movement and then instantly could observe it on our classmates or ourselves. This instant learning then acting made me constantly think further than route memorization, thus enhancing my understanding of each topic which has proven invaluable in my graduate studies so far!
 
Winter McKenna: Psych 101, Dale McAdam.
 
Post-Graduate Career and Current Position:
Abel: After earning my MPH (Masters in Public Health), I left the states to live in South Africa and work as a public health practitioner for a nonprofit organization called Grassroot Soccer. I then worked in the Rochester Department of Pediatrics conducting home visits for children with severe asthma while applying to medical school. Now, I am in medical school with interests in family/emergenc/wilderness/global/sports medicine. I am a fourth year medical student at Albany Medical College, destined for family practice.
 
Collins Antony: I moved to Washington, DC after graduation to help family members who were going through a hard time.  I lived in DC for six years and spent much of that time working as the Internship Coordinator at Amnesty International USA.  My husband and I moved to Los Angeles, CA in 2011 and we have been in the LA area ever since.  During this time, I attended graduate school at UCLA's Luskin School of Public Affairs where I earned a Master of Social Welfare.  As a graduate student, I had the opportunity to work as a therapist-in-training at the LA Gay and Lesbian Center and the Veterans Affairs Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center.  I have been home with my kids full-time since I received my graduate degree in 2015.
 
Dr. Diebold: I am an Emergency Medicine Physician working for Kaiser Permanente in San Diego, CA. I married a Spaniard after studying abroad during my junior year at U of R and we have 2 bilingual children.
 
Feller: Since graduation, I began studying at the Medical College of Wisconsin, close to my hometown. I am pursuing an MD and plan to do a neurosurgery residency following graduation. Graduating in 2023 with an MD.
 
Dr. Lang Findlay: Following graduation, I moved to Boston, MA for a one-year education fellowship through the Match Corps, where I tutored and mentored high school students. Following this opportunity, I moved back to Rochester, NY where I worked as a medical technician at a local private practice Neurology office and coached back at my alma mater as a volunteer assistant. I ultimately moved back to NJ in the fall of 2015 where I started medical school at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. In 2017, I married my U of R sweetheart, Jacob Findlay '13, who is also a soccer alumnus. Following four years of medical school, I matched to my dream residency program at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. I am now a second year resident in the Department of Urology.
 
Freitag: Since graduation I have divested most of my summer into the medical school application process. Throughout my gap year I will be instructing a class of second graders whose parents cannot be home to teach them with the transition to remote learning. I will definitely be eager to start medical school next fall though! I am working as a teacher this fall.
 
Haffenden: Current student in the Upstate Medical University Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Graduation planned for 2023.
 
Winter McKenna: School Counselor, Pittsford Central School District, Mendon Center Elementary School. I was previously at a high school and a middle school, but have found my home at primary school.