By: Victoria Williamson | Sports Editor
Kate Shepherd kicking the ball. | Caroline Gerke
LYNCHBURG, Va. – In just over one week, the University of Lynchburg Class of 2026 will walk across the stage, marking the end of their time at the university and many athletes’ careers, including women’s soccer players Zoe Villarreal and Kate Shepherd’s.
For Villarreal, a senior forward, these last days on campus are much more than just the end of a school year, but the culmination of the four years of devotion and sisterhood she gained during her time as a Hornet. Villarreal reminisces on the moment when her team gathered in the center of the pitch after her final home match of the fall season.
“One moment I’ll never forget was laying in the center circle of Shelly with the rest of the seniors after our last home game. It was the unspoken agreement that we all wanted to experience this last post-home game moment with the same people we’d shared our whole college experience with,” she said.
Adding to this, senior goalkeeper Kate Shepherd recounts her emotional experience during the Senior Day ceremony, surrounded by teammates and all who supported her athletic journey.
“Being able to step out onto the field with my family by my side and my teammates cheering me on was so special…Shellenberger Field has always been so special to me and shaped who I am as a person today,” she said.
Reflecting on their growth on the team, both players emphasized the importance of enjoying the little things, from having a tough preseason to the long bus rides to away matches.
“The bus rides, time in the locker room and literally everything else are what make this program special. Being able to play soccer was a bonus to what we already had,” said Shepherd.
Villarreal echoed that statement, advising her younger self and incoming players to prioritize mental health amid the busy student-athlete schedule.
Zoe Villarreal running with the ball. | Caroline Gerke
“I would say to remember to find joy in every experience…Even when things seem impossible, there is always something to appreciate, whether it’s the wonderful people you get to share the field with or knowing there is a whole team backing you,” she said.
As the two prepare for graduation, they feel the athletic department has equipped them well to pursue their next steps in the professional field. Villarreal, who plans to pursue a career in GIS or environmental science, credited her program with teaching her how to resolve conflict.
“Being a student-athlete has prepared me better for the next steps in my life better than any other experience could have, by exposing me to such a wide range of situations,” Villarreal said.
Shepherd, headed to a gap year as a medical assistant before applying to physician assistant school, said the program instilled a sense of selflessness.
“It has taught me so many skills I will take with me wherever I go, like time management and hard work. It taught me what it means to be a part of something bigger than myself,” said Shepherd.
Though their time on the field has come to a close, the bonds they have formed and the life lessons they have learned at Lynchburg ensure that these seniors are prepared to move forward into their next chapters with confidence.
As they receive their diplomas and wrap up their season as Hornets, they will leave behind a legacy of leadership and empowerment that will inspire the program’s future.
For more information, visit the Official Lynchburg Sports Network website.
