DOMINIQUE DUNCAN CHOOSES OREGON CITY OVER EUROPE

By Doug Fry

photo by Austin Boltz

Freshman Dominique Duncan plays forward for the Clackamas Community College women’s soccer team. Since a very young age, soccer has been a part of her life, and she hopes to continue after her time at CCC is done. We chatted with Duncan to find out more about her.

The Clackamas Print: What is your major? If undecided, what interests you?

Dominique Duncan: The major I am pursuing is sports medicine, so I would potentially like to be an athletic trainer or something in the general area

CP: How long have you played soccer?

DUNCAN: Since I was six or seven years old.

CP: What drew you into playing soccer at CCC?

DUNCAN: My high school coach reached out to Janine Szpara and she asked for me to come over and try out for the team here at Clackamas.

CP: You said you want to play at a four-year school, what are some that you have in mind? Are you being looked at by any major schools?

DUNCAN: I have actually been looking at University of Oregon or Oregon State University to continue my education and play soccer. I have been emailed by other major colleges on the Eastern parts of the country, but I don’t know if I will commit to traveling that far to see if it is a good fit.

TCP: How does soccer impact your everyday life? Does it affect a job or family time?

DUNCAN: Soccer takes up most of my time, but I actually am fine with it. It doesn’t affect my job at all since I work weekends. The job I have currently is working in guest services for Providence Park. I prefer to work Thorns games more than Timbers just because it isn’t as hectic as the Timbers games. I am very close to my family, since my family is very supportive of me when it comes to soccer. They think that it is important for me to keep pursuing my dream of playing. Any chance I get to spend time with my family, I will do so.

TCP: Have you ever played internationally? If so, where have you played?

DUNCAN: I have actually never played on the international level. I was offered to play for a traveling team in Europe, but I didn’t take the offer.

TCP: How did the team in Europe find you?

DUNCAN: The team in Europe found me through a recruiting website I was on, so they direct messaged me to come out to play, but considering the costs and the timing of the event conflicted with other things in my life at the time, I had to turn it down.

TCP: Would you go if given another opportunity?

DUNCAN: If I were offered to play in some event like that again, I probably will take the offer since it was something that I really wanted to do and would love to participate in.

CP: Do you like to travel or hike?

DUNCAN: Traveling and hiking has to be one of my top favorite things. Just being outdoors and exploring new places is exciting to me and can entertain me for days.

CP: Do you have a game day meal?

DUNCAN: Game day meals usually happen the night before. I do a carb-loading dinner of spaghetti and occasionally bread. To prepare for game day, I eat a filling breakfast that my coach recommends, that consists of eggs, hashbrowns and toast. Before my game I eat a light snack and drink plenty of water.

TCP: How is it to be able to play with teammates from high school?

DUNCAN: Continuing to play with teammates from my old high school is something I really love because I know how Veronica (Campuzano) and Mayra (Pantoja) play.

Travis David V Whittaker contributed to this article.