“You have to enjoy it: the game and the sport. They’re different things.”
Abigail Roy, an Integrated Business Engineering (IBE) '25 student and a women’s soccer player at Purdue, is a lot of things — but she isn’t defined by her sport or her corporate dreams. She defines herself by her ability to be seamlessly dedicated to both.
Roy first fell in love with soccer as a young girl, playing on teams for a small club near her hometown in Bartlett, Illinois. While she also had a passion for basketball, the dream of playing for a Big Ten school ultimately drew her in. As she found increasing success in the smaller leagues where she played, it became clear that it was time to pursue more competitive opportunities, ones that would increase her chances of being noticed by colleges.
For many teenage athletes, the idea of playing for a Big Ten school can be overwhelming. But for Roy, the goal was always different. Chasing the Big Ten wasn’t about simply making it, but rather making her. Throughout her sports career, her focus has always been on hard work and effort — factors she can control. If she was worthy, she believed, she had confidence she’d land a spot on a team.
“I’d reach out to coaches at camps and say, ‘Hey, give me a chance. I want to see if I can play for your team one day.’”
If I’m good enough to play for the Big Ten, then I’ll get there. If I commit to it, I can keep getting better — it’s something to strive for.
When Roy found Purdue, "one day" became "day one." Roy always knew that Purdue shined in Big Ten sports, but what stood out to her during application season was the school’s academic rigor. While her first commitment to Purdue was for athletics, her passion for learning followed. With interests spanning across engineering and business, Roy wanted to explore it all. Unlike her earlier choice between basketball and soccer, she didn’t have to choose between engineering and business. With the Daniels School’s IBE program, she realized she could have both.
What most athletes love about their sport is the challenge, knowing that every kick, throw and goal presents a hurdle they must overcome. Roy found this same sense of challenge in IBE, which immediately drew her in. The increased difficulty of her classes kept her on her toes, and having a strong background in both of her academic passions gave her the flexibility to choose between them later in her career.
“Having a technical background is huge with where the world is going. The Daniels School and IBE gave me exactly that. Everything is data-driven,” says Roy.
While the challenge in both athletics and academics was crucial to Roy, so was the ability to compartmentalize. She knew she needed to give her best to both games and classes, which required active and deliberate decision-making. “Once I’m on the field, I don’t worry about anything else,” Roy says.
As a student-athlete, Roy occasionally has to be excused from classes to attend tournaments and games, but stepping away from class never feels isolating. Her team always has her back, both on and off the field. Roy recalls a particular trip back from one of her games when her teammate and friend, Zoe Cuneio, Marketing ’25, worked on a class assignment with her on the bus ride home.
“We all want to be successful in the classroom. A lot of us take similar classes, and that’s a wealth of knowledge right there. You have 25 players who have either dabbled in the subject or taken a class you’re taking, and they can help you,” says Roy.
Playing with Cuneio, Roy learned the value of failing forward. In one particular game, needing a goal, Roy instantly knew that she would depend on Cuneio.
“I just knew I had to get the ball into the box, and that Zoe would help me head it in,” says Roy. Her instinct to let Cuneio take the play is a testament to the supportive and nurturing friendships that players build on the team.
“Although we lost that game, we never gave up. We know not to give in when we’re losing, and to focus on failing forward — not on the failure itself,” Roy reflects.
Soccer has allowed Roy to work with different types of people. One of her biggest takeaways so far has been understanding that each player on the team has unique motivations.
“Some people are here to pay for school, some to find their passion, and some because they truly love the sport. You have to remove your personal biases to understand why your teammates behave the way they do,” says Roy.
“If you were to epitomize what it means to be a Purdue student, Abby Roy would be it. She embodies what it takes to be a leader and give your best every day. She’s honest, vulnerable, and brave. She’s so many different things for us.”
— Coach Richard Moodie
She says that it’s both challenging and rewarding to understand what makes each teammate tick and how to navigate their differences to function as a unit. As team captain, Roy feels having high emotional intelligence has been key in helping her guide each player toward their best. She adds that how players react to their mistakes — and to those of their teammates — matters. Their body language, frustration levels and ability to empathize are key. A person’s performance self is not their personal self, and the thin line distinguishing between them is everything, explains Roy.
Being a team captain is a special experience for any player, but leading at a Big Ten school like Purdue is a whole new world. With first-year student-athletes settling in and seniors preparing to graduate, every year brings a new set of role models. As a freshman during the 2021 season, two upperclassmen, Marisa Bova and Sarah Griffith, stood out as inspirations for Roy.
“Bova, who now plays for the North Carolina Courage, is one of the best captains and players I’ve ever met,” Roy says. “She’s so determined to excel at what she does and to perfect her craft. She was always the first person to put her arm around you and lift you up. Griffith, on the other hand, is a force on the field. She never forgets about the rest of her team and would always come up to us and say, ‘I see you and the work you’re putting in.’”
Outside of her team, Purdue alumni like Clayton Brizendine (BS ‘00) have also played a huge role in Roy’s success. Roy first met Brizendine at an alumni dinner hosted by Purdue, and after a few meetings, he eventually became her mentor. Regular coffee chats and lunches, when he's on campus, have helped Roy navigate her sport while staying focused on her growth. Through Brizendine, Roy has had the opportunity to connect with his network and seek guidance from a variety of sources. “Purdue people vouch for you everywhere in the world,” Roy shares.
Her coach, Richard Moodie, and his team have also been instrumental in building her confidence and teaching her the importance of culture and people. Roy explains that Moodie has changed her life and approach to soccer in every imaginable way. With an increased focus on what it means to connect with her team and classmates, and his unwavering belief in her skills, Roy wishes she could spend her entire career working with Moodie and his team.
What makes Purdue unique is the emphasis on data analysis — even in sports. Moodie has incorporated data-driven details to help Roy and her teammates reflect on their progress. GPS systems are regularly used to track their strength and conditioning, and to monitor psychological load so every player is at their best on game days.
Looking back on her journey so far, Roy knows there’s more to come. She knows that a Purdue degree, paired with the Boilermaker grit, sets her up for success in whatever she desires next. For Roy, that means diving deeper into a law specialization at the Daniels School to complement her IBE degree. On the field, it’s about remembering that the best team doesn’t always win, which is why the focus must remain on performance, not just results.
Recently hired soccer coach Richard Moodie came to Purdue from South Alabama. He aims to build a top 25 program for the Boilermakers. Using sports science, data and goal-driven coaching, Moodie and his team aim to help players like Abby Roy achieve their athletic and academic goals.
“Throughout the interview process,” Moodie says, “when I met and had a conversation with Abby, I realized this is a program that deserves to win and players like Abby deserve to win and feel success.”
Since his early coaching days, Moodie has embraced sports science, including GPS technology and performance tracking, to provide objective insights into his players’ efforts and progress. In 2013, his team was only one of two using GPS sports in the U.S. The other was the Seattle Seahawks. Access to data-gathering technology changes the environment in which athletes train.
In line with his player-centered approach, the data is often kept behind the scenes, allowing players to focus on their goals and wellness rather than having their confidence dictated by metrics.
Moodie and his staff use Individual Development Plans (IDPs), where players define their personal goals and drive the conversation with their coaches. They use performance data to guide and support these goals, helping players identify areas for improvement and growth. The result is a competitive environment that values individual progression and team success, where players like team captain Abigail Roy exemplify leadership and dedication.
Moodie aims not only to build top athletes but also to prepare players for life beyond soccer, underscoring the importance of holistic development at Purdue.
“Our sales pitch to kids that come to campus, outside of the obvious fact that Purdue can offer them a world-class education, is that we have a player-centered program. We’re going to help you grow and develop,” he says.
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