Rice University Athletics
Rice Memories: Samantha Chaiken
4/9/2020 9:56:00 AM | Women's Soccer, Blog
"I am currently a 2L at Baylor Law. I will graduate Summer 2021 and hope to return to Dallas following graduation. I think it was meant to be for me to end up at Baylor. I played my first and last collegiate soccer games at Baylor.
My senior season (2017), the team earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Championship Tournament following a 12-3-2 overall record. We were undefeated in C-USA league play with a 9-0-1 record. Having clinched the NCAA Tournament by winning the C-USA Tournament my freshman year, earning an at-large bid was huge. The 2017 season was historic on many fronts and I am so thankful to have been a part of it.
Following the 2017 season, I was named an All-American and Scholar All-American. To receive those honors was a dream come true. I wouldn't have been recognized if it weren't for our fantastic coaches and the historic season the team put together.
I will never forget going to Rice Soccer Camp my junior year of high school. I was able to meet two of my future teammates, Jasmine and Quinny. It was at camp that I first got to witness Jasmine do her famous Wobble. I was also able to get a feel for the campus and college life while I was there.
I will always be indebted to Quinny Truong for taking me under her wing my freshman year. I don't think she ever understood what kind of impact her mentorship had on me. Quinny, thank you. I will always be your enforcer and right hand girl. You laid the foundation for my experience with Rice Soccer and I will always be so appreciative of that.
I will always cherish Mr. Hargreaves. His game day attire consisted of a Rice Hawaiian shirt. He would stand as high up in the bleachers as he could get. As soon as the National Anthem finished playing he would hold up his double peace signs and scream in his English accent, "Let's go Rice!" Mr. Hargreaves made getting to play with Holly just that much sweeter.
I can't erase the image of Maya and Haley doing their choreographed dance to "It's Tricky" by RUN DMC before games. Those two really know how to liven up a party!
I will always remember Hurricane Harvey and the destruction that came along with it. I am grateful to have worked alongside members of the Rice community to help assist those most affected. In such a dark time, it was encouraging to see people so eager to lend a helping hand.
It is hard to reminisce about my time at Rice without thinking of all the people that impacted me during my time there. My teammates, coaches, administrators, professors, and Rice friends were what made my experience so memorable. Not a day goes by that I don't wish I could do it all over again.
I remember scoring my first collegiate goal. We were playing at LSU in Baton Rouge. My dad flew in from Dallas to watch our game. It was late in the game and we got a corner-kick, something tells me it was Danielle Spriggs that got it for us. Quinny served the ball in and I was able to get a head on it. It was a special moment, my dad was there to see it and we were able to beat a Power 5 school. Sorry Coach Lee, but we are so happy to have you at Rice!
I love when I get asked where I went to school. I could not be more proud to say that I went to Rice University and that I was a student-athlete. Being a student-athlete challenges you in ways you have never experienced. Sure, you may have played your sport in high school, but the college stage is completely different. It is more competitive, time consuming and demanding both mentally and physically. It is difficult, but it is one of the most rewarding experiences. As a student-athlete at Rice, I learned accountability, time management, mental toughness, leadership, team building, and what true hard work can get you when you put all of those characteristics together."
