Women’s Soccer Senior Spotlight; Tinna Bergthorsdottir

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Midfielder Tinna Bergthorsdottir will graduate this season and will be honored on Senior Night against Davidson. Recently she spoke to UNCGSpartans.com about her experience as a Spartan.    

Coming from Iceland, what attracted you to playing soccer at UNCG? The soccer programs successful history, UNCG´s beautiful campus with all its professional facilities that would allow me to become a better soccer player and a very good word from a family friend that played soccer here a few years back.

You have been playing Soccer since you were a kid, what other sports did you play and what made soccer so enjoyable? I have played soccer since I was seven and along with that I did swimming and track & field. At first I did not like soccer that much but both of my parents were soccer coaches so they did not give up that easily and supported me until I scored my first goal, and then I never turned back.

Any of your six siblings play sports and when was the last time your family saw you play? Yes, four of them really love soccer and play the sport.  The last time my family saw me play was July 17^th which was my last home game in Iceland before I came back for pre-season.

What has been your favorite college soccer memory since being a part of the team? This years' game against Appalachian State, when we showed great character and team spirit coming back from 2-0 down and winning in double overtime 3-2. It did not hurt either that I scored the golden goal, which was a pleasant surprise.

Who were you role models growing up?  My mother, as an athlete and a person along with her two younger sisters (my aunts). Also I look up to my step father and have great respect for all that he has done for me, helping me become the player I am today. My soccer idol was Ronaldo No. 9 from Brazil.

Which players helped you the most in the transition from being an international player to college soccer? I would say the whole team, each player contributed bits and pieces of advice and wisdom as I learned with time how soccer can be different but at the same time similar as back home. Also I would say that Karin Sendel, being an international player too with some college experience, helped me in many ways.

If you could start your college career over again what would you change and why? I would have wanted to spend all my three years here in the States at UNCG, not go to another college first. These years have flown by so quickly and I enjoyed every moment of it. I have learned so much and met so many great people.

What are your career aspirations after college?  I want to study physical therapy back home and work as a physical therapist, and who knows, maybe I will decide to get a master´s degree in Public Health one day.

-UNCG-