Mohawk Valley Women's Soccer Player, Hannah Pcola is certainly no stranger to success, as she gained All CNY Small School Soccer recognition as a Senior at nearby Mount Markham high school in 2021.
But her drive for success started long before her time at Mount Markham high school. She started playing soccer at a very young age and explained that she "fell in love with the game and knew it was something (She) I wanted to do in the future."
Now fast forward, her goal, vision, and work ethic has all led her to this point. Where she is now a student athlete competing for the Women's Soccer team at Mohawk Valley CC.
Early in her freshman campaign, she has been a vital part of the MV's early season success. The #3 Hawks have started off the season with 5 straight wins, and four of them have been shutouts, thanks in part to the stellar goalkeeping of the talented freshman.
Pcola attributes her team's early season success to a collective team effort and stated that they have all been "working hard on and off the field and always pushing each other to a different level. We all have the same goals and work ethic, which makes us family."
Coach Vitale's women's soccer team has been in the spotlight for quite some time now. During the 2021 campaign, his Hawks went 14-2 and won a regional championship. Pcola certainly understands how difficult it will be to repeat in 2022 in the always talented Region 3 landscape. Pcola said there are a few things that are really special about her team that could give them a chance to make some noise this October.
She shared a brief story highlighting just how special her team is, during her time of need this August.
"We have each other's backs all the time. I was out for a week to start the season (undisclosed health issue), and when I came back there was a basket full of things that each player got me and still to this day, they always ask how I am feeling and if I am doing ok. I have never felt so appreciated. I know this team will always have my back and I will always have theirs."
The relationships that Hannah is talking about, have been a trademark of the culture that Coach Vitale has instilled in the Hawk DNA ,over his tenure here at MVCC. Those same reasons will be important as the season goes on and the Hawks are challenged more and more each game.
In addition to that culture and relationships on the MVCC women's soccer team, when Hannah was asked about the reason she picked MV she talked about her "love for the campus" and how the more than 90 degree options gave her the opportunity to pick the "classes she wanted to enroll in and still be close to home."
Having such a close relationship with her family, that has proved to be something very special to her thus far. She said her parents have made a great deal of "sacrifices to support her dream."
When asked about what inspires her, she said that she had a message for her parents, who clearly have been and will continue to be a huge part of her success story.
"Thank you for the long hours you spent sitting in the bleachers/standing watching me play the sport I love, even if it meant unbearable conditions or missing work to be there for me. The pregame texts mean the world. Thank you for pushing me and telling me to keep going, I would have never been able to do it without you." Listening to Hannah speak about her parents, really showed that her inspiration comes from what her parents have given up, to allow her to have this opportunity/dream that she is living right now.
For now, the talented student athlete from Mount Markham will be working hard with her teammates, looking to leave her mark on Mohawk Valley athletic history. In the future, Hannah Pcola plans to get her degree in Physical Education and become a Physical Education teacher for grades 7-12.
No matter where she is in the future, we all look forward to watching Hannah Pcola continue to excel and leave her mark on Mohawk Valley Community College and beyond.