Name: Tiana Ramirez
Team: G04 Black
Number of Years at Copa: 2
HS: Manalapan High School
HS Honors: Honor Roll, High Honor Roll
Coaches at Copa: Coach Matty Berman, Coach Lori Berman, Coach Roberto Aguas
College Attending: Marist College
Conference: MAAC
Anticipated Major: N/A
Quote about a specific coach: To start off, Coach Matty is a driven and motivated coach that always wants you to play at your best. In games or practices, he will always help you with whatever you need. Coach Lori is the sweetest and most supportive woman I have ever met. She is always helping you strive to do your best and is there for you whenever you need someone to talk to. Lastly, Coach Roberto is someone that I’ll never forget. He is so honest as well as inspirational and it is something I have never experienced with another coach. He always wants you working hard and that is the only work rate he will accept in his players. All three of my coaches are people I look up to and I want to show them the hardworking, dedicated player that I am.
What are your most memorable moments or experiences at FC Copa Academy?
Going to the ESPN Disney soccer showcase had to be one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had at FC Copa Academy. Playing at such a well-known place with so much positive energy was such an incredible feeling.
How did FC Copa Academy help you become the player you are today?
FC Copa pushed me to be the best that I can be at all times. In addition, they helped shape and develop me into a good player and made me realize my full potential.
How did FC Copa Academy help you get into the college program you will be attending? With a lot of hard work and dedication, my coaches worked together to help me get into a good college not only athletically but also academically. Also, through all their practices as well as games they have constructed me to become the player I am today.
What are your thoughts and experiences on the collegiate recruitment process with FC Copa Academy? There was a lot of patience involved but in the end, it was well worth it. They made it very simple for me to make my decision, making sure I had a good future ahead of me. Whenever I had a question about anything during the recruitment process, they were right there to help me.
What advice would you give to future FC Copa Academy athletes going through the collegiate recruitment process?
It is a very patient process but the time will come. Trusting your coaches to find the right fit for you is a huge part of this process. Always play like someone important there is watching you because you never know what opportunities may come your way. Share any other info that you may want us to know:
One of the reasons that I came to FC Copa Academy was because of the part they played in developing my sister, Briana Ramirez, who went on to play at NJIT. Playing Division 1 soccer has always been a dream of mine and seeing that they helped make it happen for my sister was eye opening for me. It made me confident thinking this was a club that I knew I definitely wanted to be a part of. Coming to Copa, everyone welcomed me with open arms and I immediately felt like I was a part of the family. Working hard every week trying to achieve this dream of playing Division 1 soccer two years later has finally paid off! It is still crazy to me that I have reached this point in my soccer playing career. I am so thankful for the opportunity I have and for FC Copa, especially my coaches.