By Fiona Espinoza-Castro
Correspondent
As a senior business major, Ava Curtis is preparing to finalize her journey as a Lion for the women’s soccer team. After spending years dedicated to the sport, Curtis has not only grown as a player but has emerged as a leader, guiding her teammates both on and off the field.
Growing up in a family where athletics was always a priority, she was surrounded by the sport from a young age.
“My parents were both athletic growing up and always prioritized leading a healthy lifestyle,” said Curtis.
Her two older sisters were put in different sports at an early age but chose to play soccer, which meant Curtis was always on the sidelines, watching them play.
“I never really remembered a time without the sport…when I was old enough to start, I only ever wanted to play soccer,” she said.
By the time she was three years old, Curtis started what she called “stepping stone” lessons. After playing recreational soccer for a couple of years, she tried out for her first travel team at 6 years old for Players Development Academy, also known as the PDA, a nationally renowned competitive program.
Curtis has always had a soccer ball at her feet. Whether she was at home or out and about, she was constantly dribbling and passing it against walls. Her technical ability grew naturally through this and the training she had at PDA.
One of the most challenging aspects of the game has been developing her soccer knowledge, which requires you to understand the game and make quick decisions during high-intensity situations.
“You can’t really practice it on your own since it is something you garner just by experience like playing and watching a lot,” said Curtis.
She recalled how her Dad would go to work early so he could drop her off at 5 p.m. practices for years. Her true inspiration is her family’s support.
“My parents always went, and still do, to every single one of my games and would not hesitate to support me, which was definitely hard because it was very time and financially consuming,” Curtis said.
Many young kids between the ages of 9 and 12 often lose interest in their sport because they were initially pushed into it by their parents, rather than developing a genuine interest in it.
However, Curtis never felt that sense of not wanting to play soccer thanks to one of her coaches, Larry Hart. Hart made the sport fun and there was never a day Curtis wasn’t excited to play.
“He was such a great coach and he made our team excel which in turn made it more fun to be a part of,” said Curtis.
Despite her early success, Curtis faced her fair share of challenges. For an athlete, burnout is common, but she learned to stay grounded by focusing on why and who she plays for.
“To me, it is important to consider the effort my family has put in for me to accomplish my goals, the teammates who have my back and have endlessly supported me, and my younger self who loved playing more than anything,” she said.
The College’s women’s soccer program is a welcoming environment that promotes hard work and dedication toward the team. Curtis remembers Paul Blodgett, an old coach, who taught her a lot about the game and life itself.
Both of Curtis’ older sisters are alumni of the College, with Arielle having graduated in 2019 and Amelia in 2022. She has been surrounded by this supportive community since she was 11 years old.
“I’ve always had a love for the school and after COVID hit and my recruiting process got affected, I just knew at the end of the day TCNJ would always be home for me,” Curtis said.
She recognized that college soccer is a different game. Top players are competing against each other, and the play is faster and it is more demanding mentally and physically. Balancing the demands of soccer and academics has never been easy for Curtis, but through time management, she said she has found the balance.
Although it is easy to get caught up in the environment during a game, Curtis makes sure to take a step back and remember all of the opportunities and relationships the sport has brought her.
“You have 30 new automatic friends,” said Curtis “We all met in pre-season so before school even started we were able to form friendships and strong bonds and help each other out with the transition into college life.”
Her success on the field is not only her talent, recognized as NJAC Rookie of the Year (2021), 1st Team All-NJAC (2021, 2023), 2nd Team All-NJAC (2022), NJAC Defensive Player of the Week (11/6/23, 9/3/24) and more accolades. Instead, she relies on the strong bond she shares with the team.
“I truly love my teammates and would do anything for them,” Curtis said.
As a team captain this year, Curtis has embraced the role and responsibilities that come with it and is determined to be a good role model for her teammates. “I try to be friends with everyone, be someone they feel comfortable going to, and to make all the girls feel as welcome and supported as possible,” said Curtis. “This team is like all our second family so we work hard to keep that true for every girl on the team.”
Curtis’ time at the College has been transformative for her character. The biggest difference she has noticed from her freshman year has been her confidence and ability to lead. As a first year, she was always focused on proving herself and doing her duties effectively. But now as a senior, she is more comfortable on and off the field and able to step into a leadership role without doubting herself.
“A valuable lesson I’ve learned is the importance of resilience, as I bounce back quickly after a mistake and learn from it. The focus is not on how or why you made a mistake but on how you react to fix it,” she said.
The season is nearing an end and Curtis feels bittersweet to face the transition from being a student-athlete to life beyond college soccer after graduation.
“Soccer has been a huge part of my life and identity and I know it will be tough once it hits me I won’t be able to put on a TCNJ jersey again,” Curtis said.
She feels a mix of nostalgia and anticipation for the future, feeling grateful for everything that it has taught her and the friendships she has made.
Her advice to young student athletes is simple:
“Be patient with your progress and don’t compare yourself too much to others. Every minute on the field, whether in games or practice, is a chance to learn and improve,” said Curtis. “Most importantly enjoy the experience as much as possible, because it goes by faster than you can imagine.”
