Born and raised in San Diego, Stephanie Ochs has become a regular face of the Houston Dash over the years. She’s been a part of the squad since its conception in 2014, when the Washington Spirit traded her to the expansion team. In the former University of San Diego star’s years with the NWSL, she’s dealt with position changes and injuries, but the attacking player is still in great form and one of the most versatile players for the Dash.
The switch from college to the pros
The 25-year-old’s professional career did not start with the NWSL. In fact, Ochs was the third overall pick in the 2012 WPS College Draft, where she was selected by the Boston Breakers after being named 2011 WCC Player of the Year. Unfortunately, she didn’t even get to so much as train with the Breakers, because two weeks after the draft the WPS folded. Ochs was able to play in the WPSL Elite with the Western New York Flash and won the championship that season. Ochs admits that the adjustment of playing college soccer to playing professionally was difficult for her, as it is for many young players.
“It’s such a transition from college to playing professional, and I think people don’t really realize that until they get there and you realize that this is your whole life,” the former Torero said. “You think you’re really good in college and then you get to this league and you go to training, and you’re like crap everybody’s really good.”
Despite having to adjust to the higher level of play, a year later she was selected first overall in the 2013 NWSL Supplemental Draft by the Washington Spirit for the NWSL’s inaugural season. She tallied one goal and two assists for the struggling team. The following season she found herself with the Houston Dash, where she’s been ever since.
Dealing with the Dash
The Dash hasn’t been the most successful of teams in the league, and they still struggle with winning games and being able to maintain a steady place in the standings, but if there’s one thing that Ochs can count on, it’s how well she and her teammates can stick it out and make it through whatever obstacles they overcome. Having weathered the past two seasons in Houston and witnessing all the changes on the roster and on the field, the Dash player knows they’ll always find a way make it through.
“It can be hard,” she admitted when talking about the Dash’s previous struggles. “but I think that’s one thing that’s positive about this team. No matter what’s happened, we’ve persevered.” Ochs also commends the teammates she’s had on the Dash, making it clear that the women she shares the field with are the type of people who are always wanting to work hard and get better every day despite the obstacles they face.
In addition, Ochs has faced quite a few position changes since joining the Dash. After being a forward all her life, Coach Randy Waldrum made the decision to convert Ochs as a left back out of necessity. She went on to play as a left back for the whole season, and throughout 2015 until she suffered her ACL injury. This season, she played a handful of games in the position, but now fans have been seeing her back in the attack as an outside midfielder for the Dash.
The change to outside midfielder is still something the former forward is still getting used to, who has always naturally been a direct forward with her quick feet and creative shots. Though she’s still trying to fit into the role, she’s definitely happier to be in a more attacking position this year. “[Becoming a defender] was what our team needed at the time so I did it and I kind of embraced it and it ended up working out well, but I think I’m in my heart I’m definitely an attacker and for me personally that’s where I’m better,” she explained on the position changes. “It’s so much easier when you don’t have to think about [how to play] on the field.”
Facing her own struggle
Aside from team struggles, Ochs was forced to face a major obstacle in her life just last year. On April 26th, 2015, the Dash player suffered an ACL tear in the 19th minute of the Dash’s match against the Boston Breakers. Undergoing surgery a few weeks later, she was forced to sit out the rest of the season.
News like this is hard to take in for anyone who, like Ochs, has made soccer their career. Instead of sulking about it, she was quick to accept the facts and move forward. “I probably had a span of a week or two where I was just really upset, but after that you kind of realize that there’s nothing you can do about it,” she said when reflecting upon the injury. “You kind of just have to take it for what it is.”
So she did, and as soon as the surgery was done, the 25-year-old’s mindset was immediately on recovery for her knee as she recalls, “I was so ready to work hard to get back and realized ‘It is what it is. I have to do everything possible to get back,’ and I think that mindset made it a lot easier for me.” She believes this mindset made the process a lot quicker and easier. Her time away from the field was focused on getting her knee better and also reflecting and figuring out everything else in her life. By the end of July 2015 she was back to running, and strangely enough that scared her more than actually getting out on the field and playing again.
“After I started running I was like ‘Oh it’s stronger than I thought it was,’” she told VAVEL USA. Once she was thrown into training, she hardly thought about her ACL at all, instead working on getting to where she was before the injury and improving soccer. This season, her return to the Dash has been seamless and she’s just as threatening as ever with her runs on the flank and golden left foot.
Playing overseas
The attacking player has expanded her soccer horizons over the years. In the offseasons of both the 2013 and 2014 NWSL seasons, she headed overseas to play with Canberra United in Australia’s W-League. Being overseas was a challenge for the Californian, not knowing anyone and being unfamiliar with her surroundings, but the whole experience has made her a better person and player.
When asked about her time in the W-League she said, “The league as a whole is a really great league. They have things pretty well put together. When I go there, everything is taken care of and I don’t have to worry about finding a place to stay or how I’m getting around.” This is slightly different from the NWSL, where it can be harder for teams to find housing for the season and also transportation to get them around while they’re in town. Despite this, the NWSL is making improvements to help the players.
On styles of play between W-League and NWSL, it’s clear to Ochs that play in the states is at a higher level. “Everybody’s good, everybody’s fit and strong,” she spoke of the NWSL. “In Australia I feel like, teams are good but there’s always a few players who aren’t at the level everyone else is at.” However, she believes the W-League is improving and beginning to catch up to the NWSL as the years go on. She also realizes that stateside players are also taking advantage of the perfectly timed schedules between the two leagues and improving their play as more NWSL players decide to head to Australia in the NWSL offseason.
Experienced Ochs thinks NWSL will stick around
After being around for a few years and experiencing a league overseas, the former Torero is confident in the NWSL as it makes it through its historic fourth season. One of the biggest things that stands out to her is the pay country’s federations play their allocated players because it takes a big load off of club’s shoulders. Another big thing is just the success of the U.S. Women’s National Team over past few years that have helped gain traction and support of this league, starting with the USWNT’s Olympic gold in 2012.
“It’s been super helpful that we’ve had the [2015] World Cup and now the Olympics at this time,” Ochs said on the successes of American soccer. “[They’re] putting on a good show and got more people more excited. It helps us really do better.”
As for the final in October, it’ll take place in the Dash’s very own BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston. Houston’s attendance numbers might not be the highest in the league, but they’re still fairly good and the midfielder believes the final will only draw more people in with all its excitement and hype.
Stephanie Ochs and her Houston Dash teammates return to BBVA Compass Stadium on August 18 when they take on Ochs’ former club, the Washington Spirit.