Feature Photo by University of North Georgia

In her freshman season, Commerce native Chloe Diaz (’23) logged all of 3 games played and 69 total minutes on the pitch. She was determined to change that. Now a full-time starter, the sophomore forward has become an anchor in the UNG lineup.

“The jump from high school to college athletics has been massive, not just in terms of physicality but also mentally,” says Diaz on the necessary adjustments. “In high school, you might have been one of the top players on your team, but in college, everyone is at a higher level. The biggest adjustment for me was adapting to the speed of the game and the higher expectations. It is so important to remember in college soccer that there are going to constantly be new players being recruited to impact the team. There will always be competition, so it is imperative that you never settle or plateau as a player. I’ve really had to put in the work both on and off the field. There are the hours spent at practice, of course, but also the individual sessions—working on fitness, sharpening my technical skills, and watching game film to analyze how to make smarter decisions. The strength and conditioning work has been huge for me as well. The intensity of college practices and games has forced me to elevate my fitness level to keep up and maintain performance throughout the season. One of the most important pieces of advice I would give to anyone playing a sport at the college level is that putting in the work when no one is watching is one of the best things you can do for your game.”

Diaz earned her first start on September 11 in a win over Young Harris in which she scored her first goal and added her first assist. But it wasn’t until October 5 that she started and kept that spot. She came off the bench on September 21 against USC Aiken and found the back of the net twice. That likely helped get her the starting nod, as well as her continued healing from a neck injury.

“It wasn’t always this way, though. I had to spend a lot of time waiting for my chance and developing my game,” adds Chloe. “The first year was tough. I was not a key player whatsoever, and I rarely saw the field. I had to earn every minute on the pitch. There were moments when it felt frustrating, especially seeing others get the opportunities you want, but I always reminded myself that I needed to be patient and stay focused on the long-term goals. The waiting period taught me a lot about resilience. I spent time off the field working on things that would give me an edge when I did get the opportunity—whether that was fitness, ball control, or watching our team’s key players. I had to trust that if I put in the work, my time would come. And when it did, I was ready. I worked extremely hard through the fall and spring season. In the summer when I fractured my neck and could not train for months, I came back as soon as I was cleared and began the grind once more.”

To date, Diaz has 4 goals and 1 assist (9 points), logging 8 shots on goal and 1 game-winner. Through 15 games played (10 starts), she has clocked 821 total minutes on the pitch. She has high goals and aspirations for the rest of her soccer career and ultimately in her profession.

“In terms of soccer, my goal is to keep improving, contribute to my team’s success, and ultimately play at the highest level I can reach,” she adds. “I am nowhere near the player I would like to be. I want to develop into a player that can make an impact every time I step on the field—whether it’s scoring goals, creating assists, or providing leadership. Beyond soccer, my goal is to become a physician’s assistant. College has given me the opportunity to study and explore other passions, and I want to use my education to set myself up for success after my playing career is over. I see myself thriving in the medical field, which is why I am working towards a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology with a concentration in exercise science.”

As noted above, Diaz suffered a non soccer-related injury that left her status in doubt, but she battled through as she’s always done.

“When we came back from summer break, I was injured,” Chloe explains. “Unfortunately, I suffered from a car accident and fractured my C1 vertebrae in June. I was in a neck brace all summer and could not train at all. When we came back to school to start preseason, I was still not cleared. I had to watch my teammates prepare for the season and participate in the preseason friendlies. I was finally cleared a few days before our first official game of the season, and I did not start. However, my coaches put me in during that game and started to build up my minutes every game after that. Eventually, I became a starter and began playing significant minutes while scoring goals and getting assists. I feel very proud of myself for bouncing back from a very serious injury and playing the role that I do now on the team. Of course, this has led to a strong boost in my confidence. There’s nothing like seeing the hard work pay off. I feel more confident in my decision-making on the field, and it’s given me the belief that I can make an impact in any game. But, even with the success I’m having, I know that there’s always room to improve. I’m trying to keep the momentum going, but I also remain focused on staying grounded and continuing to work hard, because I know that consistency is key.”

The Lady Nighthawks are 10-3-2 following a 1-1 draw against Lander ahead of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament, which begins on November 9 against Georgia Southwestern at home.