Name: Andy Perez
Age: 20
Major: Biology
Hometown: Los Altos, CA
HC: How did you get into soccer?
Andy: My dad played in college and went professional afterwards, so he inspired me to follow that same route. He had me start kicking a ball around when I was around a year old, and I started actually competing at age four.
HC: What is it like being a student athlete?
Andy: Balancing school with practice and games is definitely difficult, but it’s worth it. I think time management is a really important part of being a student athlete.
HC: What’s your favorite thing about playing for the UCSB Soccer team?
Andy: My favorite thing is definitely the fans in the stadium. Our school averages the most fans at soccer games in the nation, and it’s a really nice environment to play in.
HC: What has been your favorite moment in your college soccer career?
Andy: Last season, I was going to red shirt; but halfway through the season, the coach convinced me to start in a game. I wasn’t going to play that season, but leaving the bench was worth it because I scored the very first goal of the game.
HC: Do you plan to continue playing soccer after you graduate from college?
Andy: Yes, I hope to. I want to follow in my dad’s footsteps and go pro; it’s really difficult, but it’s my goal.