CSA Alumni Spotlight - Vicky Bruce 93 CSA Predator G (ECNL)

We are all extremely proud of our former CSA/CUFC players who been able to make the massive leap from college to professional soccer. It seems each year we continue to see our former players sign pro contracts. The most notable recent examples would be Tomas Hilliard-Arce (overall 2nd pick in the 2018 MLS draft) and Jaylin Lindsey (U17/20 National team star who made his debut for Sporting Kansas City in May). These two special players join at least 15 others who have played professional soccer! We have former players in MLS, USL, in European leagues - the men’s professional game at every level has never been more widely viewed in United States.

One of our former female players has been blazing an equally impressive trail. Vicky Bruce is entering her fourth season in the pros. It's our absolute pleasure to tell you her story and inspire our next future professional to come out of CSA. Vicky was kind enough to give us some of her time to fill us in on the last few years!!!

Vicky was fortunate enough to represent the USA National Team at youth level. After a really impressive youth career, she decided to sign for the UNC Chapel Hill Tarheels. Vicky won an NCAA National Championship while at UNC (2012). She completed her college playing career closer to home, at Davidson College. Shortly after graduating, Vicky signed with the famed Scottish giant Glasgow Rangers. The next season Vicky packed her bags and decided to sign her next contract in Iceland. "Iceland as a whole is an experience I’ll never forget. The league was filled with national players from countries all over the world, we got to play against very good competition every week, which helped me improve so much. We were always the underdogs, which made the competition all the more exciting.” Vicky’s next port of call was with Apollon Ladies in Cyprus. Vicky is contracted with through 2019.  

Vicky was always a great teammate during her CSA days. When asked what advise she would give herself 8-9 years ago, she said, "My advice would be to have fun but also train really hard even when it seems like it's useless. I often got frustrated that results weren’t seen right away in strength training or fitness or ball work. But now, years later, all of those little things added up and make me the unique player that I am today.  There will be the slightest differences between someone that plays 90 minutes and someone that plays 30 minutes or someone that goes pro versus someone that retires after college. Put the work in now so that you can truly enjoy the experience later on.”

When asked about the huge transition from her youth career to college soccer, she said, "The transition from youth to college soccer was a big one! As an elite youth player, you’re often one of the best players on your team. In college, it doesn’t work like that! Anyone playing in college is doing it because they truly love the game or are good enough to get a scholarship to go to school. Basically, the competition is much more fierce and the coaches are much more strict, they expect more of you than you’re probably used to. But at the same token, by the time you’re in college, you are an adult and no one but YOU can get yourself playing time. A coach will do his/her best to support you and help you learn but if you don’t try or just can’t keep up with the level of play, there’s about 30 other girls they can choose from.”

Philip Poole (US Soccer Development Academy Director) said, “We set a very high standard within all of our girls' programs at CSA. The fact we have a true role model in Vicky to show our players what is possible if they are willing to work hard and sacrifice is amazing. I know Vicky has been through so many highs and lows during her professional and college careers - the fact she is still willing to improve, take chances, grind every day, and give back is an inspiration to every single player in the club - male and female”.