Former RIT/NTID women’s soccer standout Mia White to play in Europe
White will be the only Deaf player on the team
Mia White, former standout player and captain of Rochester Institute of Technology’s women’s soccer team, has accepted an invitation to play in Europe for the Primera Regional Madrid league’s Sporting Club Madrid team, a pre-developmental professional academy formerly known as Football Academy Madrid. White ’20 ’21 (business, MBA) will be the only Deaf player on the team.
Pre-season begins Aug. 16 with the regular season starting in September. She leaves her current position as a marketing communications specialist in NTID’s Center on Access Technology on July 29.
“I am really excited to continue my soccer career abroad,” said White, who is from Littleton, Colo.“I was shocked by this opportunity. Playing soccer in Europe with the top coaches is a huge honor. I can’t put in words on how ecstatic I am for this journey.”
White, who played forward for RIT from 2016 to 2019, was the Liberty League Player of the Year in 2019 and garnered First Team All-Liberty League honors. She was a First Team United Soccer Coaches All-New York Region selection. As team co-captain, she tied for third in the Liberty League in points (20) and led the Liberty League in assists (10). White started all 18 games in 2019, logged 1,125 minutes of playing time, and recorded a career-high seven points on three goals and an assist in a win over Oneonta State. She tallied two goals and six assists in nine Liberty League regular season contests.
League schedules will be announced in July. Home games will be held at Poliderportivo la Cabrera, and the team will have mid-week showcase matches against other semi-professional and professional teams.
RIT women’s soccer Coach Liz Masterson is pleased that White’s passion for the game of soccer and being part of a team is pulling her to continue her journey with the game. Masterson also fondly remembers the impression that White made on RIT women’s soccer.
“Mia has made an impression on the RIT women’s soccer program that will remain far beyond her time here,” added Masterson. “There’s no doubt that Mia made a tremendous impact on the field with her work rate, game awareness, and dynamic attacking abilities. She always seems to choose the route with the steepest hills, or rockiest terrain, that others shy away from. She loves the climb as much as she loves reaching the summit. She has built a community in Rochester because of her endless energy, passion, and willingness to connect with others. I have no doubt that she’ll be able to do the same thing in Spain as she takes on the next challenge in her playing career.”