In her freshman season, Commerce native Chloe Diaz (’23) logged all of three games played and 69 total minutes on the pitch. She was determined to change that. Now a full-time starter, the sophomore forward has become an anchor in the UNG lineup.

“The jump from high school to college athletics has been massive, not just in terms of physicality but also mentally,” says Diaz on the necessary adjustments. “In high school, you might have been one of the top players on your team, but in college, everyone is at a higher level.”

Diaz says the biggest adjustment for her was adapting to the speed of the game and the higher expectations.

“It is so important to remember in college soccer that there are going to constantly be new players being recruited to impact the team. There will always be competition, so it is imperative that you never settle or plateau as a player.”

The Commerce High soccer alum says she had to work hard on and off the field to earn and keep her spot at forward.

“There are the hours spent at practice, of course, but also the individual sessions—working on fitness, sharpening my technical skills, and watching game film to analyze how to make smarter decisions.”

Sidelined by a car wreck

Diaz earned her first start at UNG on September 11 in a win over Young Harris. She scored her first goal and added her first assist. But it wasn’t until October 5 that she started and kept the spot. She came off the bench on September 21 against USC Aiken and found the back of the net twice. That performance and her continued healing from a neck injury likely helped get her the starting nod.

“It wasn’t always this way, though. I had to spend a lot of time waiting for my chance and developing my game,” says Diaz. “The first year was tough. I was not a key player whatsoever, and I rarely saw the field. I had to earn every minute on the pitch.”

It wasn’t easy.

“There were moments when it felt frustrating, especially seeing others get the opportunities you want, but I always reminded myself that I needed to be patient and stay focused on the long-term goals. The waiting period taught me a lot about resilience.”

Diaz says the intensity of college practices and games forced her to elevate her fitness level to “keep up and maintain” her performance through the season. She says she worked “extremely hard” through the fall and spring seasons, but in June, Diaz hit a roadblock. She was involved in a rear-end car accident on I-85. The wreck fractured her neck, leaving her unable to train for several months.

“I came back as soon as I was cleared and began the grind once more,” she says.

Best advice

When the number 9 Nighthawk returned to the pitch, she came back strong.

To date, Diaz has 4 goals and 1 assist (9 points), logging 8 shots on goal and 1 game-winner. Through 15 games played (10 starts), she has clocked 821 total minutes on the pitch. Still, she admits, “I am nowhere near the player I would like to be.”

With her resilient spirit and dedication to training, Diaz continues to reach for her goals, both as a player and college student.

“I want to develop into a player that can make an impact every time I step on the field—whether it’s scoring goals, creating assists, or providing leadership. Beyond soccer, my goal is to become a physician’s assistant. College has given me the opportunity to study and explore other passions, and I want to use my education to set myself up for success after my playing career is over.”

The Lady Nighthawks are 10-3-2 following a 1-1 draw against Lander ahead of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament, which begins on November 9 against Georgia Southwestern at home.

To other current and future college student-athletes, Diaz offers this advice: “Putting in the work when no one is watching is one of the best things you can do for your game.”