Graduating senior midfielder Thalia Greenberg could not be more proud of her time with the Tufts women’s soccer program. A natural leader on and off the field, Greenberg’s lasting impact on the program will be felt for years to come.
Greenberg’s love for soccer traces back to her earliest years. She started to kick a ball around as soon as she was able to walk, and shortly after, she began playing organized soccer in first grade. Greenberg recounts how she would not be where she is today without her father, who was himself a varsity soccer player at Cornell University.
“He was the one that taught me my love for the game,” Greenberg said. “He was the one that put cleats on me when I was in first grade and had me try out for teams. My dad is also one of my greatest supporters and he’s very knowledgeable about soccer. So his impact on my soccer career has been so valuable.”
Greenberg feels that her time playing high school soccer back home in California prepared her very well for her time at Tufts. She learned the value in leadership and forming relationships with her teammates.
“High school soccer really taught me how to be a leader, how to cultivate an atmosphere that was accepting and welcoming of all people and also how to empower those that are younger than me to be leaders on the team as well,” Greenberg said.
Coming to Tufts, Greenberg carried these lessons with her. In addition to being a leader, she is also proud of the player she is on the field. She reflects on how her awareness on the field is what has made her the player she is.
“I think the biggest strength of my game is my technical and tactical awareness [and] my vision of the field,” Greenberg said. “I’m definitely more of a technical and tactical player, as opposed to physical strength and speed. So I focus heavily on distributing the ball, making effective plays.”
This style of play was clearly effective for Greenberg, as she was the team’s highest scoring midfielder this season, tallying seven goals and two assists for a total of 16 points in 21 games. In addition, she was honored as a member of the 2023 All-NESCAC Second Team as well as a member of the NESCAC All-Academic Team in both 2021 and 2022. These honors are a testament to Greenberg’s hard work and dedication to the game that she loves.
Greenberg’s play was a major factor in the program’s run to the NCAA Division III Tournament semifinals, which she feels is her proudest achievement with the program. Going into the tournament, the Jumbos were underdogs, and the team embraced that mentality.
“We were underdogs — we had nothing to lose,” Greenberg said. “I felt like a lot of pressure was lifted off of us because we didn't think that we would end up here. … We were just having fun and playing soccer because we never wanted it to end, and we just wanted to enjoy every moment with each other.”
The tournament run is a memory that Greenberg and her teammates will hold onto for years to come. She could not have asked for a better way to end her soccer career.
“It was incredible being [the] underdog and being able to make it so far to the point that we got on a plane and went to Virginia,” she said. “It was an amazing way to … end my soccer career and to do it with my teammates.”
Greenberg loves her teammates just as much as she loves the game. She recounts how her teammates are the ones who really shaped her experience and made her years at Tufts unforgettable.
“My teammates are some of my best friends here and they have expressed their unconditional support both on and off the field, and they’ve just had such a great impact on me,” Greenberg said. “My soccer teammates have definitely helped shape my experience here at Tufts and they have made me into the person that I am today.”
Through all the highs and lows, Greenberg remembers how her teammates were always there for her and how they always stuck together, which helped her to form strong bonds with her teammates.
“My soccer teammates are family to me,” she said. “To have this team environment — where especially within our Final Four run, [we came] to practice each day and just [had] so much joy … playing for each other — was just an incredible feeling.”
With her time with the program coming to an end, Greenberg is pleased with how the women's soccer program has grown throughout her time here.
“Our program has definitely changed over time here in just amazing ways, and it has grown and it has advanced,” Greenberg said. “Especially with us going to the Final Four, I feel like we’ve gotten a lot more credibility. Everyone is always excited to play Tufts, and I feel like that just affirms it as well.”
Throughout her soccer career, Greenberg has learned important lessons which she hopes to pass down to younger players.
“One lesson that I’ve learned from my time here is to just really enjoy what you’re doing and make sure you really emphasize your passion and your love for the sport — and don’t let anything get in the way of that,” Greenberg said. “Sports are extremely tough, physically and mentally. If you can find the balance between where you’re pushing yourself, both physically and mentally, but you’re also doing it [with] love for your teammates and for the sport that you play, I think that that is one of the most fulfilling aspects.”
Although she is sad to leave, Greenberg is extremely optimistic about the future of the program. Her impressive career, headlined by leadership and strong play, will serve as an example for many. Her impact on the women’s soccer program cannot be overstated.
