Women's Soccer Head Coach Riley Piechnick on Why Give, Why Now

Can you share an example of one or two ways philanthropic support has made your program stronger recently?
We were able to travel all 28 players to every competition this year, which has not been the case in the past. This included a five-day stay for competitions at URI and Fordham. On top of the two games, there were numerous team meals (including at the homes of families), a team adventure in NYC and lots of down time to spend together. These trips are a big part of the scholar-athlete experience and where the team has an opportunity to bond. Being able to travel with everyone this year was exciting and made a significant difference in our positive team culture.

We simply cannot compete at the highest level without certain equipment. Because of the generosity of our supporters, we were able to purchase small new goals and soccer balls this year that elevated our training sessions. We also purchased a new camera system to record our home games. This camera does not need to be staffed, so we did not have to use injured players to record games, and they could be on the sidelines with the team. This system also gives us a wide-angle tactical view of the field that is crucial when breaking down film on ourselves in order to improve.

What are some key ways you see your program advancing in the next 1, 2, 5 years?

I value the entirety of my Davidson experience, but the leadership lessons I gained from playing soccer have been especially important to me in my life and career. I was at Davidson for the formation of the Women's Soccer team — I started playing club soccer and then was part of the core group that became the D1 team. Participating in recruiting and building the team was a unique experience that gave me a lot of exposure to leadership opportunities early on in college. I'm proud to have been part of the group of pioneers that set the team on their path to becoming who they are today. This experience, particularly for women athletes, is absolutely invaluable, and I'm thrilled to be able to help provide that opportunity.
~ Annie Adams '92

After this past season — young players gained valuable experience, huge strides were made in program culture and we emphasized a competitive training environment — I see us having a solid foundation and on-field identity within the next 1-2 years that will help us compete for a spot in the A-10 playoffs. We will be adding nationally-ranked opponents to our schedule and continuing our efforts in recruiting highly qualified scholar-athletes from diverse backgrounds to elevate the program to the next level. In five years, my goal is to be consistently competing for A-10 Championships.

What do you see in our scholar-athletes every day that makes an investment in them worthwhile?
Dedication. Davidson scholar-athletes demonstrate an unmatched level of dedication in everything they do, from achieving good grades, winning games and being great teammates to getting involved and making a difference in the community and pursuing personal growth. Davidson scholar-athletes understand there are sacrifices required to reach a high level of success, and they willingly make them. It is inspiring to watch and motivates me to do everything I can to support them and lead them to success in all arenas.

What are you most excited about when you think about the future of your program?
I am excited about so many things when I think about the future of our program, and it is difficult to choose just one. If I must, it's watching our progress over the next few years. There has been so much change and new personnel surrounding our program this year, but I believe our scholar-athletes have truly bought into our vision and are committed to leaving the program in a better place than they found it. The buzz from alums, families and friends of DCWS in the last year has also been extremely encouraging, and I am grateful for the support from them and know it will help elevate the program and help us reach our vision.

"Athletics Done Right:" What does that mean to you?

To me, this means providing Davidson scholar-athletes with the best four-year college soccer experience by building a strong program culture that prioritizes athletic and academic achievement, personal growth and character development. Athletic achievement is competing at a high level and striving for conference championships while not sacrificing academic pursuits. And on top of both, there is a strong emphasis on building bonds within the Davidson community that will last well beyond the scholar-athletes' graduation.

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