Naperville Central soccer star Sophia Cochran has watched many Michigan football games on television.
But she has never attended one at Michigan Stadium.
“I’ve always watched Michigan growing up,” Cochran said. “We’re big football fans, so we always picked Michigan.
“I’ve never actually been to the Big House, but I’ve walked around it. I’ve looked inside of it.”
Cochran eventually will be able to watch the Wolverines in person — and pay the student rate for tickets. The junior defender announced her commitment to Michigan on Tuesday.
“Michigan has been a dream school ever since I was a little girl,” Cochran said. “I’ve always wanted to play at Michigan.
“When Michigan called and they offered me, I knew I had to take the opportunity when it came. I’m really happy with where I ended up with being able to commit there so early on.”
Cochran is the second player from Naperville Central’s Class 3A state runner-up team to commit to the Wolverines. All-American forward Emerson Burke intends to graduate early to enroll at Michigan in January.
“I’m definitely super excited for her,” Burke said of Cochran. “Obviously, she’s worked super hard for it. I think it will be super fun to continue playing with her in college.”
Cochran showed up on Michigan’s radar after Burke committed in February.
“I went to a Michigan camp,” Cochran said. “They really liked me there. They watched a little bit of high school, especially how me and Emerson connected on and off the field. That really helped. Then they watched some club.”
Everyone who watches Cochran sees a hard-nosed, tough-minded center back who makes an impact at both ends of the field. In addition to anchoring the RedHawks’ defense, she tallied eight goals and six assists and earned all-state honors.
“I think her confidence definitely helps her,” Burke said. “When she plays with confidence, she’s very hard to get past and to stop in general, and I feel like that kind of portrays how she plays.
“She has the confidence to go forward as a center back, and playing those difficult balls like she did this season speaks for itself.”
Naperville Central coach Troy Adams speaks highly of Cochran, who also plays basketball.
“She’s athletic,” Adams said. “She’s technically a solid player. She’s able to do all the things that center backs do. She’s able to win balls in the air. She’s able to distribute from the back. She’s able to carry pockets.
“It’s been neat to see the last couple years just how much improvement she’s had in some of those different areas and has kept getting better each year.”
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As impressive as Cochran’s physical skills are, her mindset might be even better.
“Sophia is an incredibly competitive person, and she doesn’t like to lose, and so when she’s defending, she makes sure that she commits to being a better player all the time,” Adams said. “She constantly asks questions like, ‘What can I improve on? What do I do well? What can I work on?’”
Cochran said her competitive nature is a result of being the third of six siblings, five of whom have played soccer.
“Competition is something that’s always big in my family,” she said. “Everything always has a little competition to it, and I feel like I bring that out on the soccer field a lot.”
Cochran will be the first member of her family to attend Michigan but not the first to play Division I soccer. Her mother, Denise, is a former Bradley midfielder.
Cochran’s older sister Maggie played lacrosse for Naperville Central, and her older brother Jacob was a state qualifier in wrestling. She brings similar tenacity to the soccer field.
“I think what stands out is I’m really fearless and I feel like I have a grit,” Cochran said. “If anyone is going to beat me one-on-one, I’m going to work my hardest to get in front.
“Even if I get beat, I’m going to work my hardest to get back. I use my full force toward everything.”
Adams said that won’t change.
“Good players are never satisfied with how good they are,” Adams said. “I don’t think it ends because she committed to Michigan. So it is a huge accomplishment for Sophia, but I don’t think that will be the end of her improvement.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.