During summer training this week, the UA women’s soccer team will return to Tucson to get some practice in before the school year begins.

Midfielder Zoe Barrie reflects on her soccer career thus far as she approaches her sophomore season as a UA Wildcat.

Barrie was just four years old when she started playing soccer, and since then her passion for the fast-paced sport has only grown. She also played softball while growing up, but knew she would have to pick one sport over the other if she hoped to play at the college level.

“Once I got to high school, I decided to go down the soccer route because I was on a really good club team for soccer,” Barrie said, “and I loved my coach and the girls on the team, which made my decision to stick with soccer my best option.”

From Aragon High School in San Mateo, California, Barrie’s club coached received a letter from UA assistant soccer coach Paul Nagy. The letter expressed interest in her playing for the Wildcats and offered to fly her out to Arizona for a visit.

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“I went on my visit, and, compared to all of the other schools I visited, it had this happy vibe all throughout that the other schools did not have,” Barrie explained. “I also loved the coaching staff because of their drive and eagerness to build a legacy.”

Barrie could not believe that Arizona was interested in her. 

“I was shocked that out of all schools Arizona was the one that gravitated towards me,” she said.

Barrie tried to stay away from the UA since it was where her parents met — and where her older brother Ian is currently attending — but there seemed to be no stopping the family tradition.

“I never thought I’d come to Arizona … I kinda wanted to be the odd one out and choose a different university,” Barrie said.

After talking to both coaches at the UA about the program and its expectations —  and examining what the other schools had to offer — Barrie decided to verbally commit to Arizona during her sophomore year of high school. Just a few years later, the 5’7” alternating defense and midfield player is about to begin her second year of playing for the UA.

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