University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ Soccer
Alumni Spotlight: Alana Dressely
8/25/2023 9:37:00 AM | Soccer
Alana Dressely joined the Minnesota women's soccer program as a freshman in 2018. Since then, the defender experienced a Big Ten Championship, a worldwide pandemic, successfully coming back from an injury, and spent her final season as a team captain. Now, an alumni of the Gopher soccer program, Gopher Sports decided to sit down with the former captain, look back on her career, and what she's been up to.
Gopher Sports: As a kid from Minnesota, how special was it to play in and for your home state?
Alana Dressely: "It was very special playing for my home state. I was able to have so many of my family members at games and even got to have my cousins be ball girls a few times. It was so much fun seeing so many of my family and friends at games, and feeling their support."
GS: You were a part of the 2018 team that won the Big Ten Tournament, what made that team so special?
AD: "The 2018 team was my first year here, so it was a very exciting way to start off my college soccer career."
GS: How did it feel to be named a team captain?
AD: "It was an honor to be a team captain of the Golden Gophers, something I'll never forget!"
GS: What was your favorite moment as a Golden Gopher? Why?
AD: "My favorite moment as a Gopher was my first game back after tearing my ACL my senior year. I've never felt so much support and love before. My teammates and coaches believed in me and encouraged me every step of my recovery. I will never forget my first game and stepping out on the field, seeing how excited everyone was for me and how proud I was to come back from that, it's something I'll hold onto forever. I was back doing what I love with the people I love!"
GS: Since graduating, what have you been up to?
AD: "I recently just started my masters in education at the University of Minnesota. I am student-teaching at Creek Valley Elementary all year long and I'm so excited!"
GS: Do you still watch and keep up with Golden Gopher soccer and are you excited to watch them compete this year?
AD: "I'm a huge Gopher soccer fan! I love watching my close friends and teammates play. The first time I went back to Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium (ELR) as a fan was very different. I felt so much happiness because I was filled with so many memories of that place. ELR is home to me."
GS: Do you have a message to the current Golden Gophers that are following in your footsteps?
AD: "Have a grateful heart throughout all of it, especially the hard times. It is truly a gift to be doing what you are doing."
GS: What impact did the University of Minnesota soccer program have on you?
AD: "Gopher soccer gave me some of my best memories and some of my hardest challenges. Without either of those, I would not be the person I am today!"
GS: Lastly, what makes being a part of this program so special?
AD: "THE PEOPLE!!!"
Gopher Sports: As a kid from Minnesota, how special was it to play in and for your home state?
Alana Dressely: "It was very special playing for my home state. I was able to have so many of my family members at games and even got to have my cousins be ball girls a few times. It was so much fun seeing so many of my family and friends at games, and feeling their support."
GS: You were a part of the 2018 team that won the Big Ten Tournament, what made that team so special?
AD: "The 2018 team was my first year here, so it was a very exciting way to start off my college soccer career."
GS: How did it feel to be named a team captain?
AD: "It was an honor to be a team captain of the Golden Gophers, something I'll never forget!"
GS: What was your favorite moment as a Golden Gopher? Why?
AD: "My favorite moment as a Gopher was my first game back after tearing my ACL my senior year. I've never felt so much support and love before. My teammates and coaches believed in me and encouraged me every step of my recovery. I will never forget my first game and stepping out on the field, seeing how excited everyone was for me and how proud I was to come back from that, it's something I'll hold onto forever. I was back doing what I love with the people I love!"
GS: Since graduating, what have you been up to?
AD: "I recently just started my masters in education at the University of Minnesota. I am student-teaching at Creek Valley Elementary all year long and I'm so excited!"
GS: Do you still watch and keep up with Golden Gopher soccer and are you excited to watch them compete this year?
AD: "I'm a huge Gopher soccer fan! I love watching my close friends and teammates play. The first time I went back to Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium (ELR) as a fan was very different. I felt so much happiness because I was filled with so many memories of that place. ELR is home to me."
GS: Do you have a message to the current Golden Gophers that are following in your footsteps?
AD: "Have a grateful heart throughout all of it, especially the hard times. It is truly a gift to be doing what you are doing."
GS: What impact did the University of Minnesota soccer program have on you?
AD: "Gopher soccer gave me some of my best memories and some of my hardest challenges. Without either of those, I would not be the person I am today!"
GS: Lastly, what makes being a part of this program so special?
AD: "THE PEOPLE!!!"
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