The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Q&A With Women's Soccer's Johanna Liney
8/25/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 25, 2014
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Members of the UAB women's soccer team will sit down with UABSports.com throughout the 2014 season to conduct Q&A's. Check back with UABSports.com weekly for different features as the season progresses.
Today's Q&A features senior Johanna Liney, a native of Marietta, Ga. Below Liney talks about her time in Birmingham and much more.
What will you miss most about UAB?
"I will miss the people the most. My teammates are my best friends and my second family. I have met some incredible people and built some irreplaceable friendships in classes and within the athletic department. Although I will always be a Blazer, I will really miss wearing and playing in my jersey and representing the school on the women's soccer team."
If you did not play soccer, what sport would you play?
"I would most likely be playing basketball. I grew up playing numerous sports, but basketball and soccer were always where I found the most success. Going into my sophomore year in high school, I was told I had to make a choice between sports, due to the constant confliction of games and practices. After many talks, I decided soccer was a better a choice and would take me further. Luckily, our team has an annual intramural basketball team in the recreation center and any of the girls that used to play basketball join to continue to play in our off time."
What are your plans after you finish up at UAB?
"I have several ideas for what I would like to do after I graduate from UAB. I am majoring in civil engineering so the ideal choice would be to continue on to graduate school eventually, but I am not sure when I plan to do that. I would also love to take a year off and travel around the world and explore other possibilities."
Who has been the biggest influence on your career?
"My family has been the biggest influence on my success with my soccer and educational career. Every step I've taken in both areas my family has been behind me pushing to be better and strive to be the best. Being brought up in a big family, we were always at each other's games to support each other and help with athletics and school. Having this incredible support system has helped me find the right path to where I am. Also, the many coaches and teammates I have had throughout my life have added positive movement in my success and paths I've chosen throughout my life."
The team won 11 games last year and advanced to the C-USA tournament for the first time since 2009, talk about how the success and turnaround from last year helps the team in moving forward this year?
"It shows positive movement and improvement as a team and program. As we have grown as a team over the years we have shown an increase in success by the end of each season. This constant success provides this year with a lot of potential and high expectations. This year we expect to go to the conference tournament and proceed through it with more success than last year and continue to grow as a program leading into next year. As a team we expect a very successful year with more wins and driven to surpass the success of last year."
For more information on the UAB women's soccer team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UABWomensSoccer). For more on all Blazer sports teams follow the official Twitter account of UAB Athletics (@UABAthletics).
