By Cristina Solano

Growing up, Paola Macias never imagined that a simple backyard soccer game with her older brothers would evolve into a deep passion, one that would lead her to become the captain of Roosevelt University’s women’s soccer team. 

Macias, a rising senior at Roosevelt, was first introduced to the sport at the age of 5. Being the youngest of her siblings, she would face the competitive style of her older brothers but it did not tear Macias down. It prepared her for a future that she had no idea was in store for her. 

“[Playing against my siblings] definitely helped me mentally and prepared me for what to expect when it came to aggressiveness, strength, and [getting] physical for when it all takes place on the field, especially now at the college level,” she said 

Macias played a variety of positions for Northside College Prep’s girls soccer team from her freshman to senior year. During her time with Northside, she was invited as a freshman to participate in the CPS Women’s College Showcase in 2019,  realizing she can pursue her passion even further at the collegiate level. 

“From there, I had coaches reaching out to me saying ‘we know you’re a freshman but we already got our eyes on you.’ It was pretty cool to have that opportunity as a freshman only and to be playing with older girls.” 

Having the opportunity to participate in a showcase like that one is something she was happy to take a part in and felt fortunate that she was given that opportunity.  

“I think it’s amazing, I think it’s great,” she said. “Not many people have the opportunity to get themselves out there and to have this showcase where people are able to show their skills and abilities through games is really cool. 

“It is a really good opportunity for people to show they can play at the collegiate level and get that exposure they want.” 

Macias joined the Lakers in their 2021-2022 season, the program’s ninth season. Roosevelt brought back its athletic program in 2012-13 after a 23-year hiatus. Roosevelt ended its athletics programs in 1989 and the Lakers’ inaugural women’s soccer season in 2012-13 was the first ever for the school, which didn’t offer any women’s sports until the department relaunched in the fall of 2010. 

While she was not nervous for the transition from high school to collegiate level, she knew the transition was not going to be easy. 

“I knew there was going to be bigger competition, so the transition into doing that [playing at the collegiate level],” she said. “I had to work a bit more physically to obtain skills that I knew would help me at the collegiate level like start running more and going to the gym. Once I did start my season it was a little hectic and it was definitely what I expected. 

“Over the years now, as a college soccer player, I know what to expect and what physical level I need to be at.”

Competition wasn’t the only thing she had to prepare for going into this next level. There were the expectations from her coaches and teammates that would also impact her performance on the field. 

“I wasn’t used to what the game was yet and had to live up to the expectations of not only my coaches but my teammates as well,” Macias said. “[Many of] my teammates were older and had this experience already. There was a lot of pressure.” 

Despite facing pressure from the new obstacles and expectations of her team, it only made Macias stronger. 

“I knew they were just doing it to make me better and make me do what I needed to do on the field,” she said. “It helped me prepare a lot mentally for it but also motivated me more to put in the work.”

With the obstacles and challenges she has overcome during her college career, Macias has encountered values which are most important to her on and off the field. 

“Having ambition. I feel it is really important to have a mentality to know what you want and to be able to go looking for it,” she said. “Being able to have chemistry with your team on and off the field [alongside] communicating and collaborating with them. It will make us stronger.”

Roosevelt and its athletic department is transitioning to the NCAA Division II level this year after being in the NAIA since its department’s reinstatement.

The senior-to-be knows that moving up two levels in competition is something not normally seen but has some definite goals for her last year as a Laker. 

“We are definitely hitting a different level of competition,” she said. “Some goals I do have in mind for the team is to see everybody be physically and mentally better for (Division II soccer).” 

Macias and her Laker teammates start their 2024 regular season at Lewis University on Sept. 5.