After five long seasons in Keaney Blue, fifth-year women’s soccer forward Sam Hagerty has wrapped up her collegiate career with her best season to date.
Starting all 18 games for the Rams in 2024, Hagerty was an integral part of the squad’s winningest season since 2014, helping the team to compile seven victories for the first time in a decade. The forward netted two goals for the second year in a row, while also leading Rhody with eight assists throughout the campaign.
“She’s just so much more versatile of a player,” URI Head Coach Megan Jessee said. “In the past she created a decent amount of chances, but, you know, was having trouble finishing or having trouble with that last pass…but now she’s actually doing that.”
Hagerty’s distribution tally finished tied for first in the Atlantic 10, marking a true testament to how far she has come in her career. Hagerty recorded just one total point in her first three seasons in Kingston, but conversely has 16 total in the last two seasons alone.
“She’s always been a very good player, but I think she’s struggled confidence-wise here and there, but now she’s really starting to put all those pieces together,” Jessee said. “Scoring goals, assisting goals, doing a lot of defensive work for us and really just being a great leader as well.”
Hagerty served as a team captain this season, and according to Jessee her leadership is another mark of growth.
“She’s come a long way from a maturity standpoint in terms of being able to help the players around her, encourage, [and] motivate the players around her to come with her and play and that’s been huge,” Jessee said.
Aiding those around her is one of the last things Hagerty did in a Ram uniform, assisting the game-winning goal in her final home game with a pass across the midfield to a streaking second-year Lauren MacDonald.
Winning her final game at home was fitting, as 14 of her 22 collegiate wins came at the URI Soccer Complex. Given that her track record features that 63.6% winning rate, it was an emotional night for Hagerty leaving the field where she had the majority of her success for the final time.
“I mean, it’s bittersweet [leaving the field for the last time]…we’ve gotten most of my wins on this field, so I’ll always remember that,” Hagerty said.
As for Hagerty, some of the best memories for her came from being around her teammates.
“The friends that I’ve made, the lifelong friends that I’ve made is just the best thing I’ve gotten out of this place,” Hagerty said.
Friends are not all that is important to Hagerty though. The Warwick, Rhode Island native is very in touch with her Rhode Island roots, and her loved ones being nearby was a driving factor for Hagerty to stay in Kingston for her fifth and final year of collegiate eligibility.
“Rhode Island is home, so I think being able to finish out my soccer career where I started it is really important, and being able to play in front of my family,” Hagerty said.
Although the women’s soccer team is done competing for the 2024 season, Hagerty’s impact on the squad will last well after her departure.