Last fall, WA’s Girls Varsity Soccer team had a remarkable run to the state championship game, and one of the many faces on that team was Rebecca D’Anna. D’Anna has been playing soccer for WA all of her four years and will be heading to the University of Rhode Island.

D’Anna has been committed to URI since she was a sophomore.

“I chose URI because I really liked its location. It’s close to the beach, Newport, and Providence. I also picked it because it has good accommodations for athletes and they gave me a good scholarship,” D’Anna said.

D’Anna is one of the few WA athletes attending a Division I college at University of Rhode Island’s soccer program.

“The URI soccer program uses really nice facilities and they have a lot to offer for the athletes like our own gym, and they have plenty of personnel to help out which is really nice,” D’Anna said.

URI plays in the Atlantic 10 division, with fellow competitive schools including La Salle University and Virginia Commonwealth University. Playing in a prestigious soccer division can be intimidating, but for D’Anna, her years of soccer and MIAA Tournament experience has helped her prepare for the opportunity.

“I definitely think the pressure that my team and I felt during the playoffs and the finals will help me cope with the pressure that comes with playing at the collegiate level,” D’Anna said.

Even with a Division I scholarship on lock, it wasn’t all written in gold for D’Anna. She was injured for the first three years of her WA career, but that hasn’t stopped her.

“A lot of times it was frustrating to have to sit on the sideline every single game, but I am happy that I did not quit. I made the most of the opportunity and bonded with the team on the sideline, it was all worth it when I got to play this year,” D’Anna said.

In her final year of soccer, D’Anna made plenty of great memories and moments on the pitch.

“My favorite moment of my high school soccer career was when we beat Central Catholic in the playoffs, a team who had been undefeated for multiple years,” she said.

When it comes to hopes for the players still on WAGS, D’Anna urges them to cherish their time playing soccer more than anything else.

“My advice for future WAGS is just to have fun and enjoy it because it will be over before you know it,” D’Anna said.