From the sunny soccer fields of San Jose, California, to Quincy, freshman defender Gracie Vierra has quickly made her mark on the Quincy University women’s soccer team.

Vierra has started every match in her first collegiate season, showing consistency, talent, composure, and leadership beyond her years.

Vierra, who is majoring in Pre-Physical Therapy, came to Quincy University looking for both academic challenge and athletic opportunity. Her dream is to become a physical therapist.

Being a freshman starter can sometimes be stressful and a lot of pressure, but according to Vierra, her teammates and coaches have always had faith in her.

“It’s a little stressful sometimes but I think it means a lot to me that people look up to me and they trust me to like make certain plays and I think I have a lot of respect for the coaches for my teammates who just put their faith in me and I think I’m having a great time here at Quincy,” Vierra said.

The age difference between the two center-backs for the Hawks tells you just how talented Vierra is. Marina Oberschmid, who is the other centerback, is 24 years old, and with Vierra being 18 years old, that makes a six-year difference.

During the 2025 season, Vierra has proven to be one of the most important parts of Quincy’s defensive unit, logging over 1,300 minutes on the field.

Some people might not find it so easy to switch California out with the Midwest but for Vierra it is a different story.

“It’s a little different. It’s like different environments, but I think it’s like almost nice to be a little bit away from home. But I also like the weather. It gets a little cold here, which I like, which is what I wanted, even though it’s weird because it’s California. But I think it’s like a nice change. It’s a welcome change. And I think it’s a really good environment for like school and soccer,” Vierra said.

Vierra has even been helping the Lady Hawks secure multiple shutouts and a long-awaited return to the GLVC Tournament for the first time in five years.

Before Vierra joined QU, she was also an impressive soccer player in California. At Presentation High School, she was a four-year varsity starter, where she earned multiple All-League honors in the competitive West Catholic Athletic League (WCAL).

She was also named Team MVP and helped her team capture a Central Coast Section (CCS) Championship.

“I’m gonna keep trying to prove people right like I deserve my spot on the starting eleven and I’m just gonna keep having fun,” Vierra said.

Her roommate Abby Koonce loves playing soccer with Vierra because they both become competitive and make each other better.

“I love playing with Gracie. We get very competitive in games like Over the River and Rondos. Overall, she just brings a smile to practice every single day. During warm-up, she’s always laughing, having a great time,” Koonce said.

And living with Vierra is not too bad either, according to Koonce.

“Living with Gracie is so much fun. We get along like two peas in a pod. We both have very positive and energetic personalities, so they get along very well. I’m actually very grateful for her talkative attitude because if I was living with someone more quiet, I think it would not be as fun,” Koonce said.

As the Lady Hawks continue to build on their success, Vierra’s steady play and quiet confidence have already made her a key piece of the team’s future.

For Vierra, the journey from San Jose to Quincy is more than just a change for her it is a step toward her dream of growing as both an athlete and a person. And if her freshman season is any indication, the Lady Hawks’ defense is in very good hands for the next three years.