HOME. OF RED RAIDERS
Hopeck hoping for spring soccer season before joining former Mechanicville teammate at Saint Rose
MECHANICVILLE, NY » 2021 might be the year that Ryleigh Hopeck gets two soccer seasons, one at Mechanicville High School and one at The College of Saint Rose.
The Red Raider senior committed last year to become a Golden Knight, joining the Division 2 soccer program that is in national title contention nearly every year.
“Ryleigh will be a great addition to our defensive unit. She possesses very good speed, athleticism and technical ability,” said Laurie Darling-Gutheil, the Head Coach of Saint Rose’s women’s soccer team. “Her competitive spirit aligns with the culture of our program. We are excited to have her join our soccer family as we work to earn another trip to the National Championship in 2021.”
While Hopeck began her college search and recruitment process relatively early, Saint Rose was really the only school that she ever considered, after getting connected with Coach Darling-Gutheil at a club game.
“Saint Rose was really the only college that I had my mind on. I knew that I want to go there the minute I stepped on campus, met Laurie and met the team. It all felt like home,” Hopeck said. “The small campus environment was perfect because I come from a small school. I knew I didn’t want to go to a big school, plus it’s close
to home and my friends and family can come and watch me play.”
The Golden Knights are coming off of a 2019 season where they went 21-31, won the NE10 championship and advanced all the way to the NCAA Division 2 semifinals.
“It was very exciting (getting recruited by Saint Rose). I knew I wanted to play soccer in college, so when Laurie started showing interest in me and said that she wanted me on her team, it showed me that all my hard work over the years and all my dedication had paid off.”
There will not be any formal NE10 or postseason competition for fall sports in the 2020-2021 school year. Meaning that when Saint Rose does get back to official competition this fall, Hopeck will be joining current Saint Rose freshman and former Mechanicville teammate, Jada Brown, in their NE10 debuts.
While Brown didn’t have much of an impact on Hopeck’s commitment, two players from a smalltown high school, playing college soccer together isn’t something that happens all that often.
“It’s going to be great playing with her again,” Hopeck said. “Jada and I played really well together at Mechanicville, so I’m
definitely looking forward to it.”
Mechanicville’s soccer program is in a similar boat as Saint Rose’s. Even though there won’t be any sectional play this spring, Mechanicville players are hoping to get an opportunity to get on the field as part of the first phase of play this March.
“COVID really has taken a toll on our senior year. I haven’t been able to experience my senior season yet, but hopefully March 1st comes soon and we’ll be able to play. If not, there’s nothing I can do about it. I’m just going to pick my head up and get on with my senior year,” Hopeck said.
The center-back has already had three-plus years on the varsity squad, getting called up mid-way through her eighth grade season. She spoke about one of her favorite moments from playing high school soccer.
“During my freshman year, we were playing Voorheesville in the sectional semi-finals. We went into double overtime and penalty kicks, we won and that was one of the most memorable moments ever from playing soccer in my entire life. My team worked so hard together and I’ll never forget it.”
She is hoping to have more memorable moments like that when she arrives at Saint Rose, where she’ll be majoring in nursing, a decision that the senior made recently. Initially, Hopeck was interested majoring in physical therapy. She had to officially change her major and interview with the nursing department.
“I knew that I always wanted to go into the medical field, it was always something that interested me. I had my mind set on physical therapy for a long time. I started talking to some people that I know who are nurses and they talked with me about their experiences, about their education and everything that they went through. That really sparked my interest,” Hopeck said. “COVID really just reinforced that there will always be a need for nurses and that I’ll always be able to help people. I realized how important nurses are in the world and that we need more of them.”
After getting her BSN from Saint Rose, Hopeck is planning on extending her schooling to become a nurse practitioner. She knows that the next four years will be her final ones playing competitive soccer, before joining the workforce.
“I’ve always been really passionate about soccer. I started playing when I was four years old and have been playing ever since. I fell in love with the game and everything that comes along with it.”
Even though typical senior events are up in the air, the only one that Hopeck truly cares about his her final soccer season at Mechanicville.
“It sucks being virtual and at home. I wish we had a soccer season to play. I never thought that the sectional final game of my junior year would be my last time ever playing with my school team. I’m hoping that we’re able to get a spring season, that was supposed to be in the fall.”