By Alex Risen

UK women’s soccer sophomore goalie Sydney Hiance has been stuck between the pipes ever since the fourth grade. She tried other sports growing up, but her love for soccer grew stronger.

“I don’t know what I’d do without soccer because it is a great escape from everything else. I can just go to practice and focus on soccer, not have to worry about class or anything,” Hiance said.

Soccer isn’t the only love in Hiance’s life. An avid piano player and guitarist, Hiance dreams of being a music producer when she graduates. She’s majoring in elementary education and says she plans to be a music teacher and coach soccer at a high school.

“I’m just happy when I’m playing music and when I’m playing soccer,” Hiance said.

The time she takes to play soccer and go to class exhausts Hiance, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. She said she gets bored in the offseason and doesn’t know what she would do with her time if she wasn’t playing college soccer, especially at UK. Hiance said UK was the perfect fit for her.

“Playing for UK is really cool,” Hiance said. “When we went to North Carolina, a guy saw us in the lobby at the hotel and asked us if we played for UK. We told him why we were there and he said that we must be pretty good if we play for Kentucky. It just means a lot to play a sport here. No matter what it is, people just recognize UK as a great place for athletics and the tradition that is carried with the name is just amazing.”

Hiance always wanted to go to UK, not just because of the tradition, but the opportunities that going there would bring. Hiance loves seeing the smiles on little girls’ faces after games. The UK women’s soccer team hosts skills sessions after games and sign autographs for many local girls’ soccer teams.

“I love working with kids in the skills sessions after games,” Hiance said. “The little girls are so cute and it makes me excited to be a teacher and soccer coach at some school in the future. I just love seeing those girls smile. It makes me happy to see them that way.”

The proximity to her home in northern Kentucky was also unmatched. Her parents are able to come to every home game and cheer on their daughter, which Hiance says is the best part about being a Cat.

“My two siblings and my family mean a lot to me,” Hiance said. “My parents come to every home game and it helps me play better. I can just play better when they’re around. They make me comfortable. Sometimes it gets lonely back at goalie, but I know my parents are there and it calms me to know they’re watching.”

While she is away from her family, she is able to feel the closeness of a different kind of family in Lexington.

“We’re such a tight group and getting chemistry off the field with each other is a big part of this team,” sophomore forward Giuleana Lopez said. “Syd is awesome and I know I have fun with her off the field.”