In our first installment of the Alumni Profile feature here on Cinn City Sports, editor and publisher Jim Vassallo talks with Rowan women’s soccer player Danielle Macey.
Macey was named the team’s most valuable player in 2012 and a captain her senior year at Cinnaminson.
At Rowan, Macey has played back, leading a Profs team that has gone 42-14-2 during her first three seasons on the field. The Profs have reached the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament in two of Macey’s first three years at Rowan.
The Profs have also played in the NJAC Tournament all three years of Macey’s career. She completed her junior season this past fall.
Major: Business-Management Information Systems with a Minor in Computer Science.
Cinn City Sports: What was the most important thing you learned about the game while playing soccer for Cinnaminson?
Macey: “While playing for Cinnaminson I truly began to appreciate just how important defense is. I never wanted to play in the back, but after Coach Digney insisted that it was the best fit position for me, I realized how vital a strong defense is in the game of soccer. Before, I thought they were just the kids with the least amount of talent, hidden in the back. Now I know and respect how much work every defender puts in each game to make sure that the team does not get scored on.”
Cinn City Sports: What is one thing you know now about playing collegiately that you wish you knew while in high school?
Macey: “I wish I knew that it was okay to make mistakes. Mistakes mean that you are trying to do something out of the ordinary but it didn’t go as planned. If you are afraid to make mistakes you never try anything new. When you are not afraid to mess up, is when the most creative and beautiful plays come from.”
Cinn City Sports: What made you choose Rowan?
Macey: “I chose Rowan because I wanted to go somewhere that was close enough to home that I could come home if I needed something, yet far enough that I wouldn’t come home every weekend. Rowan being about 40 minutes away was the perfect distance. As soon as I visited Rowan I knew I wanted to attend because it felt like home to me.”
Cinn City Sports: What is one piece of advice you can give to any senior athlete preparing to move to the next level?
Macey: “Coaches aren’t that intimidating. Never be afraid to talk to your coach. They will always understand and will talk to you very openly. I have a good relationship with my coach Scott Leacott and feel like I can approach him about anything.”
Cinn City Sports: What has been the biggest improvement to your game during your collegiate career?
Macey: “My physical fitness and speed. It is not enough to be just “fast” in college. Everyone is fast. I truly became determined to get myself in the best physical shape I could, and use this to my advantage against other opponents.”
Cinn City Sports: Which team was your toughest opponent in high school? Now at the college level?
Macey: “In high school I always dreaded playing Holy Cross. They were always the team we went back and forth with wins and losses. They were our biggest rival in my eyes. Now I have met a much bigger demon with TCNJ. In the NJAC I would say they are our toughest component because they are always extremely consistent.”
Cinn City Sports: Favorite college class to this point?
Macey: “My favorite class was probably Business Systems. I got to create websites on my own and present them to real companies. It was a nice change to regular in the classroom work.”
Cinn City Sports: What are your plans for after college?
Macey: “I don’t have anything set in stone as of now. I’m doing an internship over the summer, and hope to have full time employment come next summer after I graduate. Ideally working with computers at a business I enjoy going into daily.”
This is just the first Alumni Profile of many to come. We will try to bring you at least two profiles per week, hopefully more, as we get in touch with Cinnaminson alumni either playing in college, doing great things in college or making a name for themselves following their academic careers.
Image courtesy of Danielle Macey.
