By Heather Monahan
Features Editor
When Tia Nardella, assistant coach of the women’s soccer team, came to St. Bonaventure, she brought with her a plethora of unique experiences that will add a new dynamic to the team. Nardella spent most of the past year playing professional soccer with UPC Tavagnacco in the top Italian league, Serie A. The midfielder made 27 appearances and scored one goal throughout the season.
“I bought a one-way ticket last August and had two tryouts,” Nardella said. “I was there a total of ten months. Our season was almost ten months and I got to spend two weeks after kind of floating around Europe and exploring.”
While Nardella always had the dream of becoming a professional soccer player, it wasn’t until last year she decided to take action.
“I was working for two and a half years and thinking I was only getting older,” she said. “I just decided to strike while the iron was hot and see what would happen. I took a risk on it.”
Though she was excited about her time overseas and loved the experience, Nardella admitted she had a bit of a struggle upon her initial move.
“The language barrier was the hardest part about being over there,” she said. “People tried to help us, we tried to help them. It kind of helps if you can mime pretty well.”
Nardella said her struggle was worth it, as she came out of the experience with a new perspective.
“It really gave the confidence that if there’s something I really want to do, as long as I can make it realistic through hard work or focusing on it or having the right support system, I can do it,” Nardella said. “It was the first time I had really set a goal for myself that was maybe a little unrealistic and kind of hard to do, and I was able to do it. It gave me a different kind of confidence, knowing I can attack something like that.”
Nardella gained experience from playing abroad and won the Coppa Italia with the team and finished second in Serie A. Throughout the season she played, UPC Tavagnacco went undefeated.
“It was really unbelievable,” Nardella said. “I feel like making the team and being over there and playing with a team that never lost a game in a ten-month season is ridiculous. Then winning that huge honor of Coppa Italia, I felt like I had to keep pinching myself.”
After finishing her season in May, Nardella returned to the U.S., where head coach Steve Brdarski hired her as assistant coach of the women’s soccer team.
“I was expecting (coming back) to be a really hard adjustment,” she said. “But it was a really quick transition. The whole thing happened really fast but the blur has been really easy. The girls have been amazing. Steve is always unbelievable, always has been.”
Much like playing abroad, the coaching job at St. Bonaventure is a new experience. Nardella was a personal trainer for two-and-a-half years before going to Italy and had only ever worked one-on-one with athletes.
“This is my first time coaching an official team,” Nardella said. “I did a lot of work, specifically with soccer players, but this is my first time actually organizing, managing and working with a team. I’ve been learning a ton every single day from an awesome teacher.”
Junior forward Molly Curry said the team has been learning from its new assistant coach, just as Nardella has been.
“She knows the ins and outs of the game and really stresses the little things with us,” Curry said. “She has a degree in kinesiology, so she knows how our bodies work and the best way to stretch, warm up and treat them. Not only does she coach us, but she’s really helped our squad stay healthy as possible.”
Nardella’s story and experience has sparked even more passion amongst the team.
“She finished her professional career fighting an injury, really showing her passion and love for the game,” Curry said. “That showed us how we need to show our passion every time that we step onto the field.”
While Nardella’s time abroad is one she said she’ll never forget, she also said she’s really enjoying her time so far at Bona’s.
“The team sets great examples for me in the way to live life and the way to treat people,” Nardella said. “It’s been a really positive, awesome environment.”
monahahm10@bonaventure.edu
