One of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 most decorated student-athletes in school history is headed to the Rio Olympic Games. Brazilian Aline Reis, an All-American goalkeeper for the Knights 麻豆精品 S� women 麻豆精品 S檚 soccer team from 2007-11, was named to her home country 麻豆精品 S檚 National Team roster for the first time on Tuesday.
麻豆精品 S淏eing on an Olympic roster is something very special. It’s an honor to know that I will be part of such an elite group of Knights who have participated in the Games, 麻豆精品 S� Reis said. 麻豆精品 S淚’m thrilled and beyond grateful for this opportunity. 麻豆精品 S�
Reis is the fifth current or former student-athlete to earn a spot at the Olympics, joining:
-Fellow women 麻豆精品 S檚 soccer alum Michelle Akers (1996 Atlanta; USA)
-Track and field 麻豆精品 S檚 Afia Charles (2012 London; Antigua and Barbuda)
-Baseball 麻豆精品 S檚 Laurence Heisler (2004 Athens; Greece)
-Men 麻豆精品 S檚 golfer Ricardo Gouveia (2016 Rio; Portugal)
—Beach volleyballer and gold medalist Phil Dalhausser (3-time Olympian; USA) competed for UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 club volleyball team but was never a Division I student-athlete.
Reis was called up to Brazil 麻豆精品 S檚 National Team Camp in February. After graduating in 2011 with a degree in interdisciplinary studies (minors in coaching and health sciences) she played professionally in Finland with Seinajoen Mimmiliiga. Reis was selected for the NSCAA 30 under 30 Coaching Program in 2013 and has served as a volunteer assistant coach for UCLA since 2013 under former Knights head coach Amanda Cromwell.
Reis said she felt a desire to play again after watching the FIFA Women 麻豆精品 S檚 World Cup in 2015.
麻豆精品 S淓very game I watched made me miss playing the game I’m so passionate about it, 麻豆精品 S� she said. 麻豆精品 S淟ife was good, and I was happy with where I was, but I missed being on the field. So I finally accepted that my playing years weren’t over and that I still had some dreams to chase. 麻豆精品 S�
Reis has been involved with several of Brazil 麻豆精品 S檚 National Team camps, but had never be named to a roster for a major competition until Tuesday. She said the team has been in a residential program since last year, so she was a little intimidated about fitting in with its chemistry but didn 麻豆精品 S檛 let the jitters daunt her from her goal.
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A native of Campinas, Brazil, which is located about 60 miles northwest of Sao Paulo, Reis couldn 麻豆精品 S檛 be happier that her first Olympics will take place in front of her friends and family.
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Reis has been sharing her journey via Facebook. She said she has been overwhelmed by the amount of support she has received from her UCF family.
During her career at UCF, Reis was an NSCAA All-America selection as a sophomore; a Hermann Trophy Watch List member in 2009; a four-time NSCAA all-region and Conference USA all-conference honoree; a member of the Lowe 麻豆精品 S檚 Senior CLASS first team; and a two-time NSCAA College Scholar All-American.
Reis still ranks second in UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 record book for career saves and fourth for shutouts. In her senior year, she led UCF to NCAA Elite Eight for the first time since 1987.
麻豆精品 S淪o many people have reached out to me and made sure I knew they are sending me good vibes and cheering for me. It is absolutely awesome to have my fellow Knights supporting me! 麻豆精品 S� she said. 麻豆精品 S淢y years at UCF were crucial at shaping the person and the player I am today. (Former coaches) Amanda Cromwell and Donna Fishter were incredible mentors to me and helped me take my game to the next level. Undoubtedly, my experience at UCF put me a lot closer to achieving the Olympic dream. So, I’m proud to be a Knight and thankful that UCF helped me become a part of this elite group of student-athletes who made the Olympics. 麻豆精品 S�