Derek Rivera '21 Recruiting Profile

My love for soccer began when I was only two years old and I have loved it ever since. I am known as the "little red with the soccer ball".   I identify myself as a scholar athlete.  I have spent countless days, nights and weekends practicing and competing yet always kept my grades up.  I have learned over the years that I hate losing, whether it is in practice games, or scrimmages.  I always want to win.  I want to play at the highest level that I can and also be able to do well with my course load. I know I can bring a competitive spirit to any roster and help with making a successful team.  I can lead the team in a positive direction on and off the field.  My coaches tell me I have positive energy that is contagious. 

In the Spring of 2019, I had to overcome the biggest obstacle of my soccer career, an injury! This required me to have ACL reconstructive surgery (anterior cruciate ligament).  This surgery made me miss almost a year of play.  Over that year I have been to each game  supporting my team.  I was able to watch the game from a different perspective, a perspective that I never thought I would have to see it through.   Still, I tried to help  both of my teams win in any way I could, even though I couldn't be on the field with them.  I didn't feel sorry for myself and neither did my team mates.  I have been determined to be better than before with a year of physical therapy, practice, determination and self motivation.  My doctors, coaches and therapists are amazed how quickly I healed.  Now I am ready to continue where I left off, at the top.