Samantha “Sam” Lyon is a three-year starter and four-year letterwinner for the Wesley women’s soccer team.  She majors in psychology and enjoys reading as a primary hobby.  But it’s her memory that is as impressive as her play on the field - from her favorite collegiate career moment, to a special relationship with a family member she like to have dinner with and the 2004 major league baseball playoffs (don’t mess with her Yankees). INTRODUCING … Samantha Lyon.

Briefly, what is your background in the sport you play?   I’ve been playing soccer since I was four years old. I’ve had the opportunity to play for MOSA select and PDA teams while also playing for a nationally ranked travel team from U12 until U18; after which I have had the great opportunity of playing for the Wesley College Women’s Soccer team for the last three years, this being my fourth.

What is your major in college, and what is the most important thing you learned in that discipline?   My major is Psychology, and in that discipline I have learned many things which I deem important; however, the most important thing that I have taken away from this major is that every individual is extremely different. Psychology studies the behaviors and cognitive processes of individuals and while studying this I have found that it is extremely important to understand everyone’s differences in order to become more cohesive in group settings, which is extremely helpful from being on the field with my soccer team to being in the business world working with others on projects.

What is your favorite spot on campus?   My favorite spot on campus is definitely the stadium. Whether I’m out on the field practicing or playing a game, or watching another team’s game, it is extremely calming. Every time that I am on that field or in that stadium it is such a lifting and stress relieving experience.

Outside of your home and campus, where is your favorite place visit?   My favorite place to visit outside of my home and campus would definitely be the library. I love reading and learning new things and there is no better place to do either of those than at the public library.

Other than your team, what organization (s) do you participate in (on campus or off campus)?   I am a member of Alpha Chi as well as Psi Chi, which are honors societies - one being for academic achievements as a junior and senior while the other being the honor society for psychology, respectively. I also volunteer my time to a local school where I am a certified mentor.

Briefly describe the most memorable experience during your collegiate athletic career.   My most memorable experience during my collegiate athletic career thus far has to be when we played York in the first round of playoffs in 2012. We were definitely the underdogs and no one thought for a second that we could give such a strong team a run for their money. Although we ended up losing to them in PK’s, I will never forget how proud I was and still am of my team being able to pull together and work as hard they did.

What is the most important societal issue facing college students?   I believe the most important societal issue facing college students is self identity. Self identity or being you, I feel, is sometimes extremely difficult in college. We are all in this new environment meeting new people and of course everyone wants to feel like they belong. In trying to belong we can lose our true self and succumb to peer pressure as well as other forces that are working against us and end up making negative life changing decisions, thus making self identity a very important societal issue facing college students today.

If you could change any one item in the world (in your personal life, school, community, amateur or professional sports, national/international issue, etc.), what would it be, why, and how would you do it?   I do not think there is much I would want to change about any one thing in the world; I believe that everything or event that happens was set in motion by another thing/event that led it to end up where it has, making each individual event important in its own way. However, the only thing I could possibly think about changing is the Red Sox beating the Yankees in the 2004 World Series; the Yanks should have definitely won that one.

Other than your family members, who was the most influential person in your life?   The most influential person in my life besides my family members would be my club team coach, Mike Stergiou. He taught me so many things about the game of soccer as well as life; I still look up to him to this day.

What is your favorite form of entertainment?  My favorite form of entertainment is reading, I love to getting caught up in a book.

What is your favorite source of information (TV, book, magazine, website, friends in dining hall, etc.)?   My favorite source of information would definitely be Google. I can search any question that I could possibly have, I often find myself googling many different things during the day when random questions pop into my head, such as where a phrase originated from, or the definition of a word.

If you could give one piece of advice to elementary school children, what would that advice be?   I would give them the advice to always work hard. Hard work truly does pay off, whether it is in the classroom or on the field. In order to be presented with opportunities one has to work hard.

Outside of the Capital Athletic Conference, who or what is your favorite sports person or team?   My favorite sports team is the New York Yankees, with my favorite player on that team being Derek Jeter. I love the Yankees because they display class with every win and loss. They have amazing sportsmanship which I idolize and wish to emulate. Derek Jeter is my favorite player on that team because he demands respect with his demeanor. He never complains and never makes anyone on his team feel unworthy or even bad for making a mistake.  He’s The Captain for a reason and I look up to him.

Name three (3) people, real or fictional, living or dead, that you'd like to have dinner with?   I would like to have dinner with my favorite author Dean Koontz; I would love to pick his brain for how he gets his ideas and just have an intellectual conversation. I would also like to have dinner with Mia Hamm; growing up she inspired me to become the player and person I am today, without her I would probably not be where I am today. And lastly, I would like to have dinner with my Grandma Barbara, she died when I was around 13 and I would love to have the chance to have dinner with her again and catch up.