It’s hard enough to imagine leaving home for college with the pressure weighing on you to do well in school. Try balancing that with earning a starting spot on your favorite sport’s roster, and it’s a safe assumption that any college freshman would struggle at least a little bit.

For freshman Devon Herrman, starting her college career with the SMU women’s soccer team is something she’s been looking forward to since she learned the definition of corner kick and psychology.

A psychology and history double major with an education minor, Herrman has already explored territories most freshmen do not reach until late in their sophomore year. Already seeing playing time for the women’s soccer team against nationally ranked Oklahoma State, Herrman has also taken on the challenge of two majors and a minor.

From just down the road in Irving, having her family close will definitely be a nice feeling, but Herrman ?? with her charming personality and competitive spirit ?? should have no problem adjusting to the college lifestyle.

In high school, Herrman was a three-year letter winner from Irving High School. In her senior year, Herrman was named Athlete of the Month in January and received First-team All-District honors. As a sophomore, the midfielder was named Utility Player of the Year and first-team All-District and district Offensive Player of the Year as a freshman in high school.

Why did you choose SMU?

I knew I always wanted to come here since I was a little kid in middle school. There’s a great soccer program here, and SMU has always been good, and I’ve always come out to the games to watch them play. You can also get a great education here. I was on campus for 10 minutes and I was sold. I just loved it, and it’s beautiful here.

How much of a deciding factor was the soccer program at SMU when making your decision?

I’ve played soccer since I was three years old. Your junior year is when you start getting recruited and making the commitment if you want to play college soccer, and that was definitely important to me, and I knew all along I really wanted to play here.

How different is high school to college?

It’s totally different. As far as soccer goes, the intensity is definitely the biggest difference because you’re under pressure every single day. The fans we had out here last weekend – nobody comes to high school soccer games like they do at SMU. It was just really nice to look up and see how much support we had.

Being from Irving, does your family get to see you play?

Living twenty minutes away is really convenient. My mom was really excited after I committed that she was going to get to watch me play, and she’s actually going to even travel to some of the out of state games.

What are your personal goals this season?

As freshmen since there’s so many of us, just my personal goal is to challenge every player to constantly work hard and compete for a starting spot – just be a team player and be a leader. It’s hard because there are upperclassmen who are captains, but you don’t have to be a captain to be a leader. You can still go out there and be first in conditioning, and always be positive. I want to just step up and be a leader as a freshman.

What is the one strength you can bring to the team?

On the field I’m really vocal with people and confident. Playing with pride and passion are my strongest traits.

How do you balance school, practice, and leisure?

It’s already hard balancing everything. I only had two classes on Monday and I was wiped out. Some people wanted me to go out, and I was like first of all, I have practice tomorrow, so no, and second, if I didn’t have practice I’m too tired. So it’s definitely going to be a lot of time managing, but we have the LEC to help us out which is amazing. We also room with soccer players so we help each other. We have to prioritize which it very important.

Do you have a pre game ritual?

[Head coach Brent Erwin] is really big on us getting focused for the game. It’s everyone’s responsibility to go out there and personally be ready. For me, we listen to music really loud in the locker room, which I love, and we get in two lines and dance. That’s what really gets me pumped up. Some people have to keep to be quiet in the corner, and keep to themselves, but I have to be really pumped up and going crazy.

Three words that best describe you:

Competitive because even in school and soccer I’m always a competitor. It can be a good thing and a bad thing though. Second, it would be outgoing. I’m really friendly towards people even if I don’t know you. I love to make friends, and I never meet a stranger. I don’t like people feeling out of place so I try to include everyone. The third word would probably be going back to the leadership thing. I was senior class president, and I just love being involved in group things and taking the lead, pointing people in the right direction, and helping out in any way I can.

What’s been the biggest moment in your soccer career?

I was probably 12, but I’ll never forget a tournament in San Antonio when we went into like a forty shot shootout. I remember I was up and it was do or die, and I remembered I scored and won the game. My mom was yelling things at me from the sidelines like “new roller skates,” and those were really cool back then. I remember everyone running and jumping on me, and fans rushing the field. It was awesome.

Did you get the roller skates?

I did!

What does being a Mustang mean to you?

SMU is such a classy school, and that’s one thing Brent is always stressing. Not only do you just have to represent yourself in a good way, you have to be classy. When we come out here and play we have to play with pride and class. Every time we walk off the field we applaud our fans for coming out. It’s just great having that support. That’s definitely what being a Mustang is about is representing your school and having class.

What are you most looking forward to this season?

We’re really young, and we have a really promising future, and I think in the next couple of years Brent tells us all the time we’re going to win a national championship, and I do believe that if we keep up the work rate we have we’re going to do great things.