Mirza Hasecic: A life of soccer
ST. LOUIS — It’s been a great year at Maryville University for Saints soccer star Mirza Hasecic.
Just a week ago, Hasecic was selected to receive a United Soccer Coaches accolade, specifically, a first team selection for the 2021 season. The senior midfielder from Grindavik, Iceland, continued an already impressive season that also includes him being selected to the NCAA Division II Conference Commissioners Association All-Midwest first team, as well as the College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District team and the Great Lakes Valley Conference first team.
But to Hasecic, soccer is more than just a game and collecting accolades.
“My favorite part about playing college soccer is the opportunities that it can provide, especially for health, friendship, and most important, a passion for life,” he said. “To me, it’s more than a sport. It’s a lifestyle.”
Hasecic’s love for soccer goes back to when he was younger. It’s something that has been embedded in his life since he was a kid, when his father introduced him to the sport.
“Watching him play when I was younger is the reason why I like this game,” Hasecic said. “He is also my personal coach, which is really handy. I get a lot of feedback from him after each game I play.”
Hasecic said he’s never really tried to emulate other players. For him, it was more important to develop his own style of play and be his own unique type of soccer player. And with that comes a ton of important lessons.
“Setting goals is essential,” he said. “I realized that after my freshman year that it is important to have goals for the season to make sure you perform at your highest standard.”
And those goals usually lead to good results, even through the adversity that comes with playing soccer.
“Confidence is important for us,” Hasecic said. “Believing in your ability no matter what happens is vital. Soccer is as much physical as it is mental. This game is a grind, and sometimes it can knock you down.”
He said one challenge is how soccer can test you with injuries, but those who can recover from setbacks will be stronger and better moving forward.
“If we go down 1-0, it’s important to stay mentally tough and have confidence to come back and win the game,” he said. “The way I overcome these challenges is by believing in myself and my teammates. As a team, we learn to work together. If we are mentally strong together, we can overcome any challenges on the field.”
Hasecic said that he wants to continue on with soccer after graduation and he feels that his work isn’t finished just yet.
“I believe that I can reach a higher level, especially with my work ethic,” he said.
And it would be no surprise if he reaches another level, especially with the season he’s had. He believes that being competitive, having discipline and a strong work ethic, and a willingness to learn is what truly makes a complete player. He’s shown all of those traits throughout his collegiate career. He credits his family for pushing him to reach new heights with his playing, and you can bet that they’re proud of him and the player he has become.
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