Girman enjoying every moment at Rutgers

by Matthew Ondesko: Managing Editor

Photos: Rutgers University

The hot summer mornings have turned. There is a crisp in the air. The dew is covering the grass as the sun rises. It’s a chilly morning as the players start to file on to the field one by one. There are smiles, lot’s of smiles, as the team gets ready for practice on this day.

For the seniors they are just soaking it all in. They don’t know when their last day is going to be. It could be against USC in the BIG10 tournament, it could in the NCAA tournament. Either way the class is just soaking it in.

For Rutgers forward Gia Girman she is one of those seniors that is taking it all in. She knows at some point her season, and soccer career, will come to an end. It’s a soccer career that started when she was just 5-years old.

It’s basically all she has ever known. The early morning practices, the beep test to get ready for the year. The matches all over the country, and the countless friends she has made a long way.

“I wake up everyday and the funnest thing is go to practice, and just being surrounded by great people. I think I will remember that for the rest of my life,” stated Girman. “It’s going to be sad. All the seniors are starting to talk about it now. We never know when our last, last, is. Thank God we don’t have to run the beep test anymore, but I think we are all going to miss even the hard stuff like that. It definitely will be a different type of lifestyle for all of us.”

This season has been a special one for Girman, and Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights are the only original BIG10 team left in the tournament. After expansion this past summer, no one knew what the BIG10 would look like.

But, there is Rutgers, the OG, the only one remaining as the other three that are left are all former Pac 12 schools. It’s a sense of pride for Girman that the Scarlet Knights are holding the flag for the rest of the BIG10 school’s

“I think it’s kind of funny, because we are the only OG BIG10 team left in the final four, which is kind of cool,” stated Girman. “I think Rutgers is always swept under the rug a little bit. They are always like eh they aren’t going to be good. But, I think it’s pretty cool we are the only ones left.”

It has been quite a career for Girman. One that has seen her learn a lot about herself. Like most players coming into college, Girman was the star of her high school team. She was the one everyone looked to when it came to scoring goals.

Then comes college, and a different role. Early on in her college career, Girman had to learn a different a role. She went from starter in high school, and on her club team, to coming off the bench.

It was a something the Hamilton, N.J. native had to get used to.

“Freshman and sophomore year I was always coming in as a sub, as an impact player. So, it just gave me this drive everyday at practice, and everyday on the field, to get more time. So, I think it just inspired me to work harder in practice, and in the games,” stated Girman. “I think that was the hardest part. You come in as one of the best players (in high school) but you are also coming in with even better players. But, I think that shaped me into a better person, and better player, because you are forced to compete every second of every practice. You have to keep your head high, and smile through everything. I think that’s what I learned the most, honestly, during my four years at Rutgers.”

She also had to play within herself. Girman knew when she stepped on the pitch that she had to play within the pace of the game. She couldn’t go out there and do everything herself. Every time she stepped on the field, Girman wasn't trying to prove that she should be a starter.

She was out there trying to help her team win games.

“I think I developed this mindset, not of like I don’t care what anybody says, but, honestly I don’t care what anyone says as long as I know I’m working hard,” stated Girman. “I don’t like to put myself under too much pressure. I like to go out there and enjoy it. Just smile through it. Nothing is that big of a deal. Just work hard, and everything will be fine.”

Girman’s time came in the quarterfinals. The fifth seeded Scarlet Knights where down 1-0 to fourth seeded Michigan State when Girman took a through ball from Riley Tiernan. Girman ran on to the ball and buried a right-footed shot into the side of the net.

Later in overtime, Tiernan found Girman again on a breakaway. Instead of going for goal, Girman calmly passed it over too Ashley Baran - who found the back of the net for the game-winner.

"I thought Gia was going to finish it, so I said, 'I may as well follow her!'" Baran said.

Added Girman: "We never stopped working. We knew we just had to continue working together, and stick to the plan, and good things would come. We knew it was going to be a tough game, but we all came together. We played for 90 minutes, and because we did play together, it was just so much fun and enjoyable. There is no best feeling than celebrating with your best friends.”

Soon it will all come to a close. Girman will be graduating and closing the chapter on a soccer career. A career that she can be proud off. As she gets ready to start the next chapter in her life, Girman will freely admit that she is nervous to see what life without soccer will look like.

“I’m a little nervous, honestly, because I’m not really sure what I want to do. I have some stuff to figure out. It’s definitely going to be different,” stated Girman. “I’ve played soccer since I was 5-years old, so my entire life revolved around it. It’s definitely going to be different.”

Through it all, Rutgers has been family for Girman. All the ups and downs that a student-athlete has is made better when you have family there to help you through. That’s exactly how the Rutgers soccer team is. They are a family, and one that Girman is going to miss.

“Since my freshman year, I have learned so much - just not on the field, but just like being a person,” stated Girman. “I’ve had a family surrounding me, and I always know I’ll be picked up if something goes bad. It’s definitely been a learning experience these four years, but I loved every second of it.”