Maryland Alum Arias Set for Women's World Cup
6/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
By Ben Strack, Maryland Athletics Communications
Walking out of the tunnel and onto the pitch as the anthem of her mother's homeland blared, former Maryland women's soccer player Nataly Arias soaked in the moment. Her 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. day job could never invoke the same emotions as suiting up for the Colombian National Team at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, a level of play she had sought since she was a little girl. She surveyed the stands and spotted her biggest supporters, thrilled to share the moment with them.
“I was lucky enough to be able to find my family in the stadium right before the game, right before the whistle blew, so that was also kind of incredible in the sense that I felt like it was full circle,” said Arias. “I had really accomplished a dream that I had had since I was a young kid and that my family could experience that with me as well.”
Sesión de fotos para el Mundial!! 🇨🇦🇨🇴 ///// Official photoshoot for the Women's World Cup @FCFSeleccionCol @UAWomen pic.twitter.com/srqooHH7KN
— Nataly Arias (@Nataly__Arias) June 7, 2015
The 29-year-old defender will compete in her second World Cup in Canada as Colombia begins group play against Mexico on Tuesday. First though, the former Terp had to get a two-month leave of absence – which began May 20 – from her full-time job as a human resources manager at Resolution Technologies, an IT staffing firm.
“I had a very rare opportunity to represent a country in an international competition so I wasn't going to pass that up,” Arias said, joining Colombia two years after graduating from Maryland in 2008. “But at the same time getting started in a career path was also important so it was just trying to manage and balance both priorities for me.”
A self-described anomaly, the dual life was no easy task for Arias, and still isn't the second time around, demanding her to devote hours of training on top of her busy workweek. Her managerial position only allowed her about four-month cycles of preparation with the team instead of a full six months, meaning her fitness regimen at home had to be more intense.
Waking up at 5 a.m. is normal for Arias, allotting time for cardio before her morning commutes. After work, Arias is back at it, whether she is lifting weights with her trainer or playing with various men's club teams in Atlanta, where she now resides.
The relentless work ethic that has allowed her to maintain a starting role at center back on the Colombian team despite having another occupation was on display during her time in College Park, according to Maryland women's head soccer coach Jonathan Morgan.
“She's always been just a competitive kid and every ball matters and just has a really great fight and spirit about her,” said Morgan. “I think what's gotten her to this next level is that she has taken that same competitiveness and same spirit and she's brought it to her training as well. It's not just on game day, it's within her training, whether it's by herself or whether it's with her team. She's grown up quite a bit.”
Morgan – an assistant coach when Arias sported the red, white, black and gold – said he has known her since she was a club player at around 13 years old. He watched her progress to become the All-Met Player of the Year for Bishop O'Connell High School and eventually a captain on the Terrapin squad during her senior season, Morgan said Arias' current fitness level is perhaps better than it's ever been. Her ability to balance everything may stem from college where Morgan says all student-athletes face high demands.
“I think whenever you're a student-athlete, you have to manage your classes, you have to manage the training and the games with your team and then kind of also find a way to have a social life as well,” Morgan said. “I think that's just who she is and it's what she's grown up with.”
Watching Arias enter the international soccer sphere – where she has six goals in 43 appearances – and try to boost the soccer program of her mother's country has been enjoyable for the defender's former coach.
“She's one of the leaders on that Colombia team and those were some qualities that she had [at Maryland] with us,” Morgan said. “It's really good to see her now, a second World Cup player in her second go-around. She has really taken that team and made it hers so it's pretty cool to see that growth.”
Grouped with Mexico, France and England this year, Arias-anchored Colombia is hoping to improve upon its last showing, losing to Sweden and the United States before tying North Korea in the country's first-ever FIFA Women's World Cup. Playing the dominant American women in Germany as well as the following year in the London Summer Olympics – both 3-0 losses – helped Arias see what she wanted her country to one day become.
“When you really want to excel and you want to be the best, you also have to beat and compete and play with the best,” Arias said. “The U.S. National Team has been the standard for many years and so having that measuring stick there was a great experience for our country as a program and as a whole to see true professionals and to see what it takes to maintain and be at the top for many years.”
Currently immersed in the game of soccer and her double life, Arias does not know when the “incredible ride” will end. Her current leave of absence covers next month's Pan American Games and she fully intends on competing in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. Though unsure how long she will play after that, Arias is certain of the legacy she hopes to leave behind when it's all over.
“My biggest goal once I leave this program is that I feel satisfied that I left my mark and that I helped for the women's game to continue to grow, not only in my country but in South America in general,” Arias said. “I just hope to go out on a high note.”
Q&A with Nataly Arias
By Elvis Dennah, Maryland Athletics Communications
On the excitment of playing in the World Cup:
“I'm most excited about the opportunity to get my country more exposure on the world stage. In South America we are still trying to have women's soccer really grow because there's not a push for it. I'm most excited to see the growth of youth players in my country to inspire to be where we are one day. I want to change the culture so that the youth can realize there is an opportunity to become a professional athlete and represent your country in major competition like the World Cup and the Olympics. It's a goal of mine to continue to have the game grow in my country."
On representing Colombia:
“It's an incredible honor to get a chance to represent your country in a major competition and it's the biggest honor you can have as athlete in my opinion. I am really happy and excited to be in this position and feel very fortunate and blessed to continue to represent my country and the world cup.”
On what she took from the last World Cup:
“The previous World Cup was crucial for experience purposes. I learned how to take care of myself and maintain and train to be able to be effective at this level.”
On her experiences as a professional:
“My experience as a pro has been rewarding even though there has been a lot of discipline and sacrifices. My story has been a little different than most because I live in the US and also work full time so I have to train very early in the morning or late at night. I have been maintaining two different worlds and trying to balance it but it's been incredible and what I dreamed about as a kid. I remember playing as a youth and my goals were to play in a World Cup and the Olympics and having achieved that it is an incredible honor. I will continue to make the most out of the opportunity I have to affect change in any way that I can. I take moments to really appreciate the experience and the journey because it's been indescribable at times to put into words. It is very fulfilling and if I had been done tomorrow, I will feel completely satisfied with what I have accomplished.”
On what she took from her playing days at Maryland:
“Maryland gave me a program and an environment where I felt challenged and I saw a lot of different styles of play, personalities, and people that helped me mature as a soccer player and person. I am thankful to have my former teammates and coaches continuing to support me along my journey. Maryland provided me a platform to push my limits and get to the next level.”
On the advice she would give to young players:
“The advice I would give any young girl right now is to dream big and not let anyone tell that that you cannot do something. I want every young girl to set goals for themselves and work every day towards those goals. I will also tell them to not care what other people expect of them but to make their own expectations and reach them.”
