EASTON, Mass. – The 2025-2026 Senior Reflections is a series of annual collections. Senior representatives of teams at Stonehill have been invited to contribute and reflect on their personal experiences over their four-year careers at Stonehill - both on and off the playing surface. 
 
Hannah Anselmo '26, Women's Soccer
 
Why Stonehill?
I chose Stonehill for both its academic and athletic prowess. There was a feeling of belonging here that I did not find at other schools, and I knew it was the right place for me to grow as both a student and an athlete.
 
Seeing Growth
Stonehill has shaped me in so many ways. The person I walked onto campus as is not the person I will be when I leave, nor is it the person I imagined I would ever become. Being at a strong academic school while competing as a student-athlete has tested my resilience and pushed me to face adversity head on. One quality that has grown immensely since my arrival is my ability to lead. I've learned how to stay composed in stressful situations, to problem-solve and give and receive constructive communication. This program has taught me about self-worth, discipline, and how to keep pushing forward even when the odds are stacked against me.
 
Entering my freshman year during a crucial time of transition for the program was a blessing, however one that was rigorous and challenging. It was a time that made me question my confidence as a player, my discipline in the classroom, and my ability to rise to a challenge the class of 2022 commits had not signed up to take on.The transition was difficult on and off the field, it meant more travel, tougher opponents, and higher expectations. My freshman year we experienced plenty of lows. Game after game, we got knocked down, however this forced us as a program and a team to lean on each other more than we could have imagined. That struggle created one of the grittiest, most passionate, and hardest working environments I've ever been a part of, and I'm grateful to say I played a part in creating. I now see that these challenges I faced were truly impactful opportunities all along. The opportunity to be part of Stonehill's first Division I women's soccer team, to earn the program's first Division I win, to qualify for the NEC playoffs, and to play a role in setting the standard for what this program could become.
 
Personally, I had the opportunity to win Offensive Player of the Year, to lead the league in both goals and assists, and to be part of a team that went from back-to-back losing seasons to a 7-2-1 conference record. Those accomplishments are not just numbers—they're proof of how far we came and how hard we worked for the platform we built for ourselves.
 
Lessons Learned
My time at Stonehill has given me a plethora of qualities as a person and an athlete. It has taught me patience, discipline, confidence, and positivity. I have learned to juggle an abundance of lows knowing there may not be a high nearby. I have learned the value of trust, teamwork, and building something bigger than yourself. The skills I have developed — leadership, perseverance, time management, resilience, and the ability to thrive under pressure — are ones I will carry far beyond the classroom and the soccer field.
 
Stonehill gave me the opportunity to grow into the person I am today. An opportunity that I am beyond grateful to have been placed at my feet in 2022. I'm leaving with more than a degree and athletic memories and accomplishments. I am leaving with confidence, a new perspective, and a family that will last a lifetime
 
To view the past Senior Reflections visit this site: 2025-2026 Senior Reflections.  

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