Becoming a professional athlete is a dream many kids around the world and in the United States have, but most don’t achieve it. Fewer than 2 percent of college athletes in the U.S. turn pro after graduating, according to the NCAA.
After graduating last fall from American University, soccer players Olivia Simmons and Sam Hershey are living lifelong dreams. Simmons is playing for Keflavík FC in Iceland, and Hershey is with Uni Hill Eagles FC in Melbourne, Australia.
Though their dreams have taken Simmons and Hershey 10,500 miles apart on opposite sides of the world, their paths to get there mirror each other.
“Ever since I was a kid, becoming a professional and playing for the national team was always my goal,” Simmons said.
Hershey has also loved the beautiful game his whole life, and it was his parents who truly ignited that fire.
“My mom and dad both coached and played throughout their lives so it kind of just got passed down,” Hershey said. “I remember going to my mom’s club tournaments and from there the love of the game grew.”
Hershey’s dad, Trevor, played soccer at James Madison University and his mom, Linda Lee, played at Gettysburg College.
Simmons’ parents didn’t impart the same soccer influence on her. Her mom envisioned her as a horseback rider.
“My mom was going to buy me a horse and that’s when I told her my true passion was for soccer,” Simmons said.
Simmons attended the Highland School in Northern Virginia before being recruited to play for Purdue University in the Big Ten. A “toxic” atmosphere led her to transfer out of the program and come to American after her freshman year. At American, Simmons helped lead a chapter of Morgan’s Message, a student-athlete mental health advocacy group.
“What I love most about my time at AU was the familial environment and the support I had during my time there,” Simmons said.
Hershey was also a transfer, but from Division II Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania.
“The program is run really well in terms of recruiting and in terms of developing players and challenging you to reach the next level,” Hershey said.
For Hershey, that “next level” first meant transferring to Division I American after his sophomore year and now, playing semi-professionally in Australia. Both Hershey and Simmons graduated after the 2024 fall semester and began the process of turning professional after graduation.
“My advice would be to be careful because there are a lot of agents who are only looking out for themselves or looking to scam,” Simmons said. “Luckily, I found Paolo [her agent] and he was able to help get my highlights out to teams.”
She then signed a two-year contract with the women’s first team of Keflavík FC in the Icelandic first division, based in Reykjanesbær, Iceland.
On the other hand, Hershey joined the Australian club Uni Hill Eagles FC based in Melbourne, Australia, which runs as a semi-professional club. Hershey has already tallied 4 goals so far in their season.
Thousands of miles from their homes in the Mid-Atlantic, both athletes are facing some adjustments to life outside the U.S.
“Australia in general is as far away as you can get from the Northeast United States,” Hershey said. “I was always super used to having my family close by and coming to games and with the time difference, it is difficult to reach out. You just have to get used to those little things that maybe you don’t get from back home.”
Meanwhile, Simmons has to learn an entirely new language — one certainly not taught at American — to understand her coach.
“Our coach always does the training sessions in Icelandic and I have struggled with that and I have tried to pick up on cues from my teammates,” Simmons said.
Simmons has also been living with a host family before she plans to move into an apartment with three other Americans, set to join the team.
While adjusting to a new country and environment can be difficult, both players praised their clubs for providing a warm and welcoming environment, which has made the adjustment process a little bit easier.
In terms of their day-to-day lives off the field, Hershey helps the club by coaching their U13 team and is also looking into work outside soccer to help make some extra money, which most of his teammates already do.
“I think coaches play a huge role, so I try to make it interesting even if the kids are giving me a hard time. I’m just trying to bring the enjoyment and the development of the game to them as well,” Hershey said.
Both players emphasized working hard as the key to being able to play abroad or professionally at any level.
The Uni Hill Eagles are sitting at (5-3-3), meanwhile Keflavík have gone (1-3-2).
This article was edited by Jack Stashower, Penelope Jennings and Walker Whalen. Copy editing done by Sabine Kanter-Huchting, Ariana Kavoossi and Emma Brown.
