Interview with Mia
How long did you play for Neusport?
I started playing for Neusport back in middle school and played all the way up until U-19s, so for about seven years.
What did you like most about being part of Neusport?
Being part of Neusport is like being part of a family. Players know each other, coaches know, help and support not only their own players but players from other teams in the club, and everyone is there for the same reason - the love of the game and the development of players. It's very rare to be in an atmosphere which can be so demanding at times but at the end of the day, is your second home, and the only place you want to be. To this day, the coaches I had and the girls I played with year in and year out, I consider to be my sisters and my mentors. I have made lifelong bonds with countless individuals whom I met while I was part of Neusport.
What did being part of Neusport teach you - on and off the field?
Neusport taught me the importance of hard work and how it pays off in the end. We always trained to be the best in order to compete with the best and that work ethic carried over into my personal life as well. It prepared me not only for my future in soccer but also in the real world. Hard work pays off, and I know for sure my coaches instilled me with a work ethic and a strong character.
How did playing for Neusport prepare you for College soccer?
Because Neusport is a respected and established club, I was always able to compete in top tournaments around the country and was able to have the opportunity to play with top players and clubs from all over the US. The level of competition is already so high at the college level that it is very helpful to have the exposure to the best of the best before you enter the next level in order to help prepare you. The only way to get better is to play with the best and not everyone has the opportunities that I was lucky enough to have while in Neusport. At the higher level of soccer it is critical that you have very good technical coaching through your younger years of playing soccer, and Neusport is the best there is at preparing players for this step up.
Was College soccer different to what you thought it would be? How?
As much as you may think you are ready for college soccer, you never really are. The best way to describe is, ‘You think you know, but really you have no idea.’ I don't think there is any possible way to completely prepare yourself for the college level. It is a different game and at first may be discouraging. In most cases, players are used to being the top players on their club teams, but now EVERYONE is a good player. You also have to adjust to the fact that soccer becomes your job. It's intense but rewarding at the same time. To know that you are at the top of your game and to see how far you have come is always a great feeling. It's a whole new world.
Any advice for young players at Neusport who want to be the next Mia Tofano?
The best advice I can give to players is to do what you are passionate about. Soccer has always been my passion and has given me so many opportunities that I may have otherwise never had. I could have never imagined the people I would meet, the places it has taken me, the doors it has opened up - it truly is the best thing that has happened to me. It has been quite a journey for me and I have stuck with it through the good and the bad times because I can't imagine my life without it. If you find something in your life, whether its soccer or otherwise, that you can't imagine not having around, stick with it - it will pay off.
Where are you and what are you doing now?
Well, I'm finishing up my junior year and will soon be starting my final season as a collegiate athlete - It's scary how fast it goes by but it has been quite a ride. I am back in Las Vegas for the summer working with Neusport at their Summer Skills and Soccer Squirts Programs throughout the summer. They are doing an amazing job with the young players at Neusport and it’s great for me to be able to come home and help develop players in the same way that Neusport helped me.
I am so blessed and lucky to be able to get paid to do something that at the end of the day, I would do for free...
Mia's Bio
2007 – Goes into 2008 as the ninth leading goal scorer in UE history with 18, in just two years... needs one point to reach the top 10 in career points at UE...first team all-MVC forward...second on the team and seventh in the MVC in points, with 15...ranked eighth in MVC with six goals, and 10th in assists with three...scored both UE goals in a 2-1 win at Indiana State...also scored against Austin Peay, IUPUI, Illinois State and Creighton.
2006 – Transferred in July from St. Mary’s (Cal.) College, and made an immediate impact...NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region third team selection...second team all-MVC...made the all-MVC Tournament Team...led the MVC in points (30) and goals (12)...sixth in the league in assists (6)...ranked 30th nationally in scoring (1.58 points per game) and 30th in goals per game (0.63)...30 points and 12 goals ranked her seventh in school history in both categories.
2005 – Played in 15 matches as a freshman at St. Mary’s, and finished fifth in scoring with two goals and one assist for five points.
High School/Club – Las Vegas Review Journal ‘04-05 Player of the Year...Sunset Region MVP...’05 Gatorade Player of the Year...led Bonanza to 2004 prep title...teamed with UE’s Kayla Lambert to lead Neusport to State Cup title...scored 100 goals for Neusport in 2003.
Personal – Mia Tofano...born Jan. 20, 1987 in Las Vegas, Nevada...daughter of John and Tricia Tofano...has a twin brother, Mario...majoring in mass communication.
