Recently featured with a video profile highlighting her goal-scoring prowess on UConn Today’s website, UConn women’s soccer standout Rachel Hill – who has opened the season with six goals in six victories to start the season – is learning to master the delicate balance required in order to play elite-level soccer and achieve academic success at the same time.

The Rollinsford, N.H. native arrived at UConn in 2013 with ambitions to achieve at the highest levels of women’s soccer and receive a high-quality education at an institution that was close enough to home, yet far enough to foster her independent spirit. Successful on both of those fronts, Rachel, according to USsoccer.com, “played a key role out of the midfield in helping the USA earn a berth to Canada (the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Canada 2014)” and recently matriculated into UConn’s Sport Management Program this fall.

“I came to UConn undecided what major to study,” she said. “Nothing struck an interest until one of my teammates recommended I look in to the Sport Management program here, because she enjoyed it so much”. Once she looked into the program and spoke with faculty about what it could offer her now and in the future, it was an easy choice for her considering her passion for sport and post-graduation goal of involvement in the industry.

“Of course I would love to go pro, but I would also be interested in working in sport facility and event management – it is something that is really hands on and keeps you on your toes – you have to get it right each time.”

But how does she find time to keep up with her studies while her athletic skills take her all across the nation for training camps with US Soccer’s U-20 women’s national team (not to mention international tournaments in the Cayman Islands and Canada), in addition to UConn’s rigorous soccer season?

It is challenging, yes, but with focus and diligence, support from her instructors, class resources posted online and encouragement from family and friends, Rachel has hardly missed a beat – and in fact continues her upward trajectory, both on and off the field of play.