University of Central Florida sophomore Drew Hansen, originally from Cleveland, North Carolina, has been making a name for himself, whether on the field or in the classroom. Hansen is currently studying biomedical science, which is not the easiest major one can study. Balancing his academic pursuits with his passion for soccer is not easy, but he does it because of his love for the sport, which runs deep in his family. His mother, a former collegiate soccer player, and his older siblings inspired him to play the game at four. Sixteen years later, Drew is carving out his legacy.
For Hansen, soccer isn’t just a game; it’s a family tradition. “It is part of my family; I don’t even remember when I started playing; all I knew was my mom and older siblings startled kicking the ball to me from a very early age, and the rest was history,” stated Hansen. While he expressed to me that he has had a handful of coaches who have helped him grow as an athlete, he also told me how his mother had the most significant influence on his soccer career. “She’ll tell me, ‘You had a good game, but you could have done this or that better,’” he adds. Drew values this feedback, knowing it’s coming from someone who understands the game personally and professionally.
His love of the sport continued to grow, and he continued to develop and refine his skills. These are some of the many mindsets that helped him prepare for the unexpected, such as redshirting during his first season at UCF. Redshirting wasn’t just a physical challenge for Drew. It was a mental one. “It was the first year in my life where I was always on the bench and never playing,” he shares. No matter how challenging riding the bench was for his first year as a collegiate athlete, Hansen found light at the end of the tunnel, and with the support of his family, teammates, and coaches, Hansen’s confidence grew on and off the pitch. Last Christmas, his sister even bought him a red t-shirt as a gag gift that still hangs on his bedroom wall. “It’s a good reminder for me to say look where you started and look where you are now,” Hansen says.
However, despite redshirting during his first season, Hansen has taken the field by storm. As a forward player, Hansen is officially on the UCF lineup for this 2024-2025 season. Not only has he enjoyed playing on the field this season, but he expressed how one of his most memorable moments this far was when he scored his first collegiate goal against Seattle in a tight knight match. “It was bittersweet,” he recalls, reflecting on the long journey from sitting on the bench to playing a pivotal role in a crucial match.
Looking ahead, Hansen has big goals for his soccer career in college and beyond. In the short term, he told me he aims to score more than three goals this season, which he’s already well on his way to achieving. However, his ultimate dream is to win a national championship with UCF and, eventually, take his skills to the professional level.
As Hansen continues to grow as a player, student, and person, he remains grounded in the values that have carried him this far: family, discipline, and a love for the game. Whether Hansen is scoring goals on the field or binging Ben 10 on Netflix again for the 1000th time, he is the definition and embodiment of a rising star with a bright future ahead of him, whether on or off the pitch.
Main Image via UCF Athletics
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