This week’s Pilot in the Spotlight is sophomore forward Taryn Ries, who has been tearing it up on the soccer field for the Pilots. Ries scored two goals against Oregon State, the winning goal versus North Dakota, a hat trick against San Diego to help win the team’s first conference game, one goal against St. Mary’s and a second hat trick against Pacific. She’s the first Pilot to have two hat tricks — meaning scoring three times in one game — since 2009.
Ries is ranked first in goal scoring in the entire West Coast Conference, second nationally for total goals scored and second nationally for game-winning goals.
Ries first started playing soccer when she was four years old after her parents signed her up. She wanted to play sports like her brother. She had a lot of energy, and this excitement characterizes how she plays at UP.
“I chose UP for the soccer history and the friendly environment and good academics,” Ries said in an email. “The small class sizes also played a large role in my decision.”
She has made a big impact on the women’s soccer scene in Portland, and said her favorite moment was beating Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles with Villa Drum Squad cheering her on. The group usually travels during fall break to cheer on Pilots soccer.
Ries relies on her teammates and her skills, and she always performs her pre-game ritual.
“(It is) putting everything on from left to right,” Ries explained. “Left sock, right sock, left shin guard, right shin guard, left cleat, right cleat.”
After Sunday night games, Ries treats herself to a post-game chocolate chip cookie; she loves any good gluten-free dessert. This season, she looks forward to growing as a team. The team’s next game is Friday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. at Santa Clara.
Morgan Wahler is a sports reporter for The Beacon. She can be contacted at wahler20@up.edu
