The most exciting time of the year is here! The time when many of our athletes start packing as they get ready to head off on their new journey as a student-athlete. Ruby Warder is one of those doing just that as she prepares to join Southern New Hampshire University Women’s Soccer – an NCAA Division 2 program!
Southern New Hampshire University – Penman Stadium.
I recently caught up with Ruby and her parents before they head off as a family to New Hampshire to settle Ruby in to her new surroundings and, as we started to chat, it was clear to see the excitement was beginning to grow!
Below you can see what Ruby had to say about the opportunity in front of her; why she decided to look at options in the US, what she’s looking forward to and some advice she’d offer to anyone thinking about pursuing this pathway.
Why did you choose to look at options in the US?
Since I was 14, I had always wanted to play Soccer in the US and live that amazing experience I had always heard about! So, after weighing up the pro’s and con’s of remaining in the UK for university or travelling to America to play the sport I love and continue my education, all under the same roof, that decision became extremely easy for me.
Why did you choose to commit to Southern New Hampshire University?
During the process of speaking to different coaches, that I received interest from, I based my overall opinion on four key elements: connection with the coach, education, level of soccer and the location. After the first call I had with the SNHU Head Coach, Coach Monteiro, I knew that was the one for me! He was so nice, and easy to talk to, which was really important to me. The degrees on offer were within areas I had a strong interest in too. After looking into SNHU in more depth, the environment was immaculate, the campus was second to none and the program was one I felt confident in committing to!
What are you most looking forward to about making the move across to America and calling Southern New Hampshire University your new home for four years?
I’m very excited to fly out this summer, settle in and begin pre-season with my new team! I can’t wait for the first games to come around, especially as we’re travelling to Florida to play some other highly respected NCAA D2 teams. I’m also really looking forward to actually meeting the team in-person and building friendships with them.
How did you find the process, and working with Daisy?
I loved every moment! Daisy was very helpful in getting interest from coaches and then helping me narrow down to make a decision. She always answered my questions whenever they came up and helped me during the admin phase, where I had to gather all the correct documents to complete tasks.
If you had to give advice to someone considering exploring US options, what would it be?
Make sure you’re choosing the college for the right reasons – is it somewhere you can see yourself enjoying your time and are you excited for a future there.
Catching up with athletes before they depart is always a special feeling! There’s a huge amount of pride in knowing we’ve done everything we can to secure them the best possible placement. After visiting Southern New Hampshire University ourselves, back in September 2025, I have absolutely no doubt that Ruby is going to love it here!
