Zachary Fier '21 Recruiting Profile

Spring 2020 was the first season that I did not play soccer since I was in Kindergarten. Missing the season has made me realize how much I miss the game and has further reinforced my desire to play competitive soccer at the collegiate level. I have been dedicated to this sport for almost my entire life. As a young boy, I played as much soccer as I could, and that passion for the game has stayed with me for the past 12 years. 

Playing in college would be the final step in my journey, as it has always been a dream of mine to play at the collegiate level. Going into High School, my main goal was to play Varsity soccer. I remember going to games as a youth player to work as a ball boy, just to see the level that they played at and wanting to be part of the team one day. I worked incredibly hard at tryouts and was selected as one of only four freshmen to make the team my first year. From there, the next goal for me was to increase playing time and become a starter, continuing to push myself to be the best I could be. I have been a starter since my Sophomore year, leading the team in goals, and hope to lead a very experienced team in my senior season this fall. 

In addition to High School soccer, I have been playing elite level club for the past 8 years, serving as a team captain for the past two seasons. As I learned and developed the skills and challenges of being a team captain, I was able to bring these skills- such as being vocal and leading by example- back with me to my High School team. This allowed me to develop as a leader in both club and school, and I feel that I can bring those skills to college as well. The strong connection I have with my teammates also contributes to my playing style. My biggest strengths as an attacking midfielder are my field vision and ability to string passes in between and over the gaps in the defense and communicating effectively with my teammates. I am not afraid to shoot the ball when the opportunity presents itself and was responsible for coordinating many set pieces.  

My love for soccer lives both on and off the field. I was able to go to an FC Barcelona game in Spain last year and see Lionel Messi, my favorite player, play up close. The atmosphere in that stadium is something like I’ve never seen before and playing in college would allow me to continue to feel that amazing energy that I felt that day in the stadium and make it my own.

Soccer and learning are my two passions and I am looking forward to a college environment where my interests can be peaked both in the classroom and in connecting with professors. I’m interested in business right now but am open to exploring all that a challenging academic setting has to offer.