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Athlete Spotlight Interview: Zoe Hopkins
July 18, 2024

This month, we are pleased to highlight Zoe Hopkins, a recent Lake Stevens High School graduate and Snohomish United Alumni.

SCSC: Tell me why you first started playing soccer?

ZOE: I always played a lot of sports growing up. I’ve played basketball, soccer and volleyball. I played soccer when I was younger just to get into little sports. I eventually got into club soccer to get more competitive. I’ve always enjoyed soccer the most out of all the sports I’ve played. Playing competitively allowed me to gain interest in going to college.

SCSC: What is it about playing with Snohomish United that you love?

ZOE: I’ve had the best coaches at Snohomish, it’s the best coaching experience I’ve ever had. It really made me fall in love with the sport and want to play college soccer. Their coaches are so personable, it’s very nice. Also, having ECNL was nice because it allows you to get more recruitment going for college. There are not a lot of clubs around in the Snohomish County area that have ECNL, Snohomish United is basically the only one. Definitely the coaches were the best aspect for me. Having Jacob Feener as my coach was the best and their admin of the club is just amazing. They really strive for the kids to do well.

SCSC: What position are you?

ZOE: I am a forward. I mostly play the nine, striker, but I also play the seven and 11, forward.

SCSC: Are there any specific like, pro teams or players that you look up to?

ZOE: I think growing up you always look up to like the girls that are older than you within your community, like high school girls. I think that was a big aspect of like, who I looked up to, and overall wanting to be like them. Also, the main like soccer icons, like Alex Morgan, Megan Rapino, and Sophia Smith. Lindsay Horan, especially because she played for like, Rush growing up, and when I was at Rush, I thought that was so cool, because a girl from my club went and played professionally.

SCSC: Do you have a pregame routine?

ZOE: I have a lot of superstitions. I have these sets of water bottles that I use, I have an energy drink in one and water in the other. I always eat the same thing before games, I always have fruit. Also, I wear the same under armor and spandex for every single game I’ve ever played. It’s like a big superstition, and I have this one lucky hair tie that I wear in every single game.

SCSC: Have you ever lost your hair tie?

ZOE: Yes, I did lose my hair tie one time, and me and my mom had to scavenge, and we found it.

SCSC: You talked a lot about how great the coaches with Snohomish United are. Who’s been the most influential coach or mentor throughout your soccer career?

ZOE: I would say the most influential coach would be Jacob Feener. He was my coach for the last three to four years. He’s definitely been the best coach I’ve ever had. His positivity and willingness to help you get better and promote you as a player to colleges and help you get to the next level of where you want to be. How he carries himself is also really awesome.

SCSC: What are some lessons that being an athlete has taught you?

ZOE: Definitely time management, leadership and teamwork. Working at any day job, you are working alongside other people, and you have to work well with them or else a job doesn’t get done. I think that’s a really good thing you learn for sports. I also think that hard work is one, because if you don’t put the work in, you don’t get the outcome that you want. Putting in all the hard work definitely shows how much of an outcome you get, which I think can play a big role in your day-to-day life, school, jobs, everything.

SCSC: Do you have a favorite memory from your high school career playing ball?

ZOE: Making varsity my freshman year and getting player of the game, one of the very first games I played.

SCSC: What is next for you?

ZOE: This next year, I will be attending Seattle University. I will be playing soccer on their team, and I will also be studying nursing.

If you want to learn more about Snohomish United, visit the following link: Snohomish United Soccer – Snohomish, WA