Taking a risk: Ivymae Perez's enduring path to the Rams

In 2019, Ivymae Perez suited up in green and gold for the University of South Florida (USF) Bulls in Division I collegiate soccer.

She immediately expressed gratitude towards the Tampa Bay-based school as the Bulls logo hangs up on her wall in her home in downtown Toronto. Though she complimented USF's soccer and academic program, she yearned for her hometown.

"I was really homesick," said Perez. "I feel like it's important to take care of myself mentally and I just wasn't doing well there (in Florida)."

After returning to Toronto, Perez initially thought it would just be a pit stop before heading back south of the border. However, having been raised by friends and family in Toronto, she realized she was here to stay.

"I feel like I've found a good fit and I'd want to stay here for the long run. I was born in the Philippines, but I grew up in Toronto. I feel like I was destined to come back (to the city) because being around friends and family was an important thing for me."

While being signed and sent off to a Division I (D1) club was exciting, Perez realized that she wasn't alone in missing home.

"USF was full of international people. There was not a single person that didn't struggle with homesickness. It can be mentally draining."

When she began training with the Rams though, Perez said she felt timid, especially as they came off a record-breaking season without her.

"I didn't want to come in thinking I was better than they are because I came from a D1 school. It took a while to get closer with some of the girls."

As the season progressed, Perez built chemistry, both from the midfield and off the pitch. She now happily mentions her teammates as her friends.

"I'm literally best friends with Keira (Kent), Skylar (Sheehan-Alleyene), Chris (Daniel)," said Perez, just to name a few.

Along with the progressing season, Perez found herself in an enhanced role on the pitch. In their sixth game of the season, the Rams were fighting for divisional points against the Algoma Thunderbirds in a chilly Sault Ste. Marie.

Around half-time, the ball unfortunately struck Perez's head in the wrong place.

"I kind of blacked out for a couple of seconds," recalled Perez.

Though she finished the game, a lingering headache and sensitivity to light was enough to send her to the clinic, where she was diagnosed with a concussion.

"I was very upset. That was my first concussion ever."

It was initially suggested that Perez would just miss a week of play and return for the later season or playoffs. As she made some progress, she was hopeful to play against Ottawa when the Rams squeaked into the OUA quarter-final. However, she wasn't feeling fit when game day came around.

"I woke up with the biggest headache. We trained when we got there, and I was just not feeling right."

Perez's injury ended up having her miss the rest of the season after their Algoma series.

"When I got that headache before we left for Ottawa, I was just devastated."

Friends, family, and teammates were there to comfort Perez as she recovered. Meanwhile, a rehabilitated Perez has high hopes for the Rams in the coming seasons, saying that the squad is on a "positive trajectory."

"We're on the come up. We're a group of very talented players. I feel like we can create something special, hopefully past the quarter-final stage."

Off the pitch, Perez has been working away in the Arts and Contemporary Studies program. Though she said Criminology was her first choice, she's come to enjoy the theoretical nature of her courses while she hopes to become a lawyer.

"Ever since high school, I've wanted to become a lawyer. After undergrad, I want to be able to take the LSAT, apply for law school, and then go from there."

Perez continues to prepare for her next full season in blue and gold, as training opens up for the squad in the new year. While she's had her fair share of challenges, from injuries to being far from home, she said she wouldn't change a thing about her athletic career.

Instead, she urges other student-athletes to "take the risk" in their sports journeys.

"Coming back here, I was hesitant. It made me realize that this was the right move for me and it really fit me well and I'm glad that I made that decision. So take the risk."

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Players Mentioned

#8 Ivymae Perez: F; 5' 4"; 2

Players Mentioned

#8 Ivymae Perez
: 5' 4"; 2
: F

Players Mentioned

#8 Ivymae Perez

Players Mentioned

#8 Ivymae Perez