Upcoming Event: Women's Soccer versus #1 Stanford on December 5, 2025 at TBA
/
TBA
Women's Soccer
vs #1 Stanford
.png&width=24&height=24&type=webp)
Photo by: Duke Athletics
A Reunion of Talent: Oliaro and Overbeck’s Shared Soccer Journey
10/7/2024 10:58:00 AM | Women's Soccer
DURHAM, N.C.-- Growing up in the sports-centric town of Chapel Hill, Mia Oliaro was initially immersed in a completely different athletic world. Her first introduction to competitive sports wasn't through soccer, but rather in the swimming pool, where she learned the discipline of training and endurance.
However, at the age of three, a simple moment would change her future forever—when her father, a soccer coach at their local YMCA, handed her a ball.
Inspired by her mother, a former college basketball player, Oliaro delved into a diverse range of sports, establishing herself as a genuine multi-sport athlete. Basketball, lacrosse, swimming, and soccer took up a majority of Oliaro's time growing up.
But by middle school, Oliaro's soccer talent was undeniable, and she began to commit more fully to the game. Her sharp technical ability, paired with her athleticism and versatility, caught the attention early on, and by the time she entered high school, she was already on the radar of top collegiate programs.
"My parents both played sports in college and a lot of the people that I was around also played sports in college and a lot of my babysitters happened to be collegiate athletes. For me, it wasn't a question as to whether would I play in college. It was, what would I play in college?" Oliaro explained.
Yet, despite her fast rise, Oliaro remained grounded, fueled by a deep love for the game, the support of her family, and the lessons imparted by a legendary mentor and familiar face: Carla Overbeck.
Overbeck, a World Cup-winning icon and long-standing pillar of U.S. women's soccer as well as longtime Duke women's soccer assistant coach, has been a part of Oliaro's soccer journey since her youth. What started as a chance encounter, quickly blossomed into a relationship that would shape Oliaro both as a player and as a person.
Overbeck first spotted Oliaro's potential while coaching her at local club, Triangle United, at around age 14 and ever since, the soccer legend has had a guiding hand in her development. Overbeck's daughter, Carson, was on the team and was able to talk Oliaro into joining.
From a young age, coaches such as Overbeck saw Oliaro's talent, which allowed her to play up nearly two years above her age group.
"Mia was so fun to coach. Technically, she was very raw, but very athletic. At the time she played multiple sports and competed two years up from her age group. You could tell she was very talented, and so quick," Overbeck recalled.
The bond between Oliaro and Overbeck transcended the typical coach-player dynamic.
Overbeck, known for her leadership as captain of the 1999 U.S. The Women's World Cup team instilled in Oliaro the values of discipline, perseverance, and mental toughness.
Oliaro's talent eventually allowed her to get involved with the U.S. Youth National Teams, including traveling to Spain with the U.S. U-19 National Team in 2024 and being part of the U-17 World Cup qualifying team in 2022.
Her international experience highlights her talent and resilience, despite the injury that kept her from competing in the 2022 U-17 World Cup.
Oliaro recalls the moment she got the opportunity, saying:
"Anytime you get a call from the national team, it's such an honor that you're left thinking, "Wow, this is unbelievable." You realize, "I'm one of only about 20 people in the whole country to receive this opportunity. How did I get here?" For me, that first camp felt like a full-circle moment," added Oliaro.
When it came time to decide on a college, Oliaro's decision originally brought her to North Carolina, where she spent last fall with the Tar Heels.
Though UNC may not have been the right fit for Oliaro's soccer journey, the program opened numerous doors to continue in the direction best suited for her.
All signs pointed down the road, under Robbie Church's program in Durham.
Oliaro found herself now donning a Blue Devil uniform and under the guidance of familiar face Overbeck next to Church.
"Mia has been fantastic. She's a very competitive young lady, wants to win and wants to compete. She plays hard and trains hard. Obviously, the spring is much more training and we saw her mentality. She has phenomenal mental toughness and she's really good with the ball," Church explained on Oliaro's impact on the program. "She has really blended in here at Duke, blended in with her teammates. She's really close with her class as she knew a lot of them from national team camps and playing with and against them. So, she's just seamlessly fit into our program, both on and off the field."
Church explained what this relationship means to not only Overbeck and Oliaro, translating to what makes the Duke women's soccer program as special as it is, saying:
"That's what happens when you live in this area. We talked about it before that Mia feels very blessed and very fortunate that she had Carla as a youth coach, and now to be able to connect that in the college ranks and Carla being able to coach her and give her pointers. They have a very special relationship."
Joining Duke, one of the top soccer programs in the nation, presented Oliaro with new challenges. Oliaro's upbringing in competitive sports, reuniting with past teammates and friends, coupled with the Duke staff's mentorship, helped her transition smoothly.
Her adaptability, honed through years of multi-sport participation, allowed her to find her rhythm at Duke.
"Duke played a huge role in my personal development, helping build my confidence and shaping my friendships. It was impactful from a soccer perspective as well. Coming in during the spring, I immediately felt the genuine support from the coaches, not just as a player but as a student and person," Oliaro explained. "I could tell how much they care about us thriving academically and making sure we're doing well mentally and physically. They made sure I was happy, and as a player, they showed me where they believe I can go and how they're going to help me get there."
Overbeck, known for her unwavering commitment to developing young players, has witnessed Oliaro's growth firsthand.
Under the Blue Devil staff, Oliaro's game has reached new heights and as a key player for Duke, she has become known not only for her technical prowess but also for her mental fortitude and leadership on and off the field.
While Oliaro's relationship with Overbeck has undeniably shaped her journey, her own determination and work ethic have been equally crucial.
Despite the physical demands of college soccer, Oliaro's love for the game remains her driving force. Whether she's battling in the midfield, making key defensive plays, or leading an attack, she carries the lessons of her youth with her.
The excitement of reuniting is undeniable for the duo, with Overbeck continuously expressing her excitement to get back into the swing of coaching Oliaro once more, saying:
"We know how special she is as a person and a player. I'm so happy she is at Duke because it is a privilege to coach her for a second time. I'm very excited to help her develop; she has the potential to do some great things collegiately"
As Oliaro looks to the future, the presence of Overbeck on the sidelines serves as both a reminder of her journey and what's to come.
"I'm in an amazing spot and I'm surrounded by the best people and the best spot for me," said Oliaro. "I can now go and use everything that I've learned this spring, and continue to build into the summer, and I like to show them that I'm like a new player again, and I'm back and better from where I was before, and I'm going to keep getting there."
For Oliaro, soccer has always been about more than just winning games — it's about the process, the teamwork, and the relationships built along the way. Her journey, guided by passion, perseverance, and the wisdom of a legendary mentor, is just beginning.
And with the Duke staff by her side, Oliaro is destined for greatness.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's soccer, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWSOC".
Duke Centennial
In 2024, Duke celebrates its Centennial, marking one hundred years since Trinity College became Duke University. Duke will use this historic milestone to deepen the understanding of its history, inspire pride and strengthen bonds and partnerships, and prepare for a second century of continued excellence and impactful leadership. To learn more, please visit 100.duke.edu
#GoDuke
However, at the age of three, a simple moment would change her future forever—when her father, a soccer coach at their local YMCA, handed her a ball.
Inspired by her mother, a former college basketball player, Oliaro delved into a diverse range of sports, establishing herself as a genuine multi-sport athlete. Basketball, lacrosse, swimming, and soccer took up a majority of Oliaro's time growing up.
But by middle school, Oliaro's soccer talent was undeniable, and she began to commit more fully to the game. Her sharp technical ability, paired with her athleticism and versatility, caught the attention early on, and by the time she entered high school, she was already on the radar of top collegiate programs.
"My parents both played sports in college and a lot of the people that I was around also played sports in college and a lot of my babysitters happened to be collegiate athletes. For me, it wasn't a question as to whether would I play in college. It was, what would I play in college?" Oliaro explained.
Yet, despite her fast rise, Oliaro remained grounded, fueled by a deep love for the game, the support of her family, and the lessons imparted by a legendary mentor and familiar face: Carla Overbeck.
Overbeck, a World Cup-winning icon and long-standing pillar of U.S. women's soccer as well as longtime Duke women's soccer assistant coach, has been a part of Oliaro's soccer journey since her youth. What started as a chance encounter, quickly blossomed into a relationship that would shape Oliaro both as a player and as a person.
Overbeck first spotted Oliaro's potential while coaching her at local club, Triangle United, at around age 14 and ever since, the soccer legend has had a guiding hand in her development. Overbeck's daughter, Carson, was on the team and was able to talk Oliaro into joining.
From a young age, coaches such as Overbeck saw Oliaro's talent, which allowed her to play up nearly two years above her age group.
"Mia was so fun to coach. Technically, she was very raw, but very athletic. At the time she played multiple sports and competed two years up from her age group. You could tell she was very talented, and so quick," Overbeck recalled.
The bond between Oliaro and Overbeck transcended the typical coach-player dynamic.
Overbeck, known for her leadership as captain of the 1999 U.S. The Women's World Cup team instilled in Oliaro the values of discipline, perseverance, and mental toughness.
Oliaro's talent eventually allowed her to get involved with the U.S. Youth National Teams, including traveling to Spain with the U.S. U-19 National Team in 2024 and being part of the U-17 World Cup qualifying team in 2022.
Her international experience highlights her talent and resilience, despite the injury that kept her from competing in the 2022 U-17 World Cup.
Oliaro recalls the moment she got the opportunity, saying:
"Anytime you get a call from the national team, it's such an honor that you're left thinking, "Wow, this is unbelievable." You realize, "I'm one of only about 20 people in the whole country to receive this opportunity. How did I get here?" For me, that first camp felt like a full-circle moment," added Oliaro.
When it came time to decide on a college, Oliaro's decision originally brought her to North Carolina, where she spent last fall with the Tar Heels.
Though UNC may not have been the right fit for Oliaro's soccer journey, the program opened numerous doors to continue in the direction best suited for her.
All signs pointed down the road, under Robbie Church's program in Durham.
Oliaro found herself now donning a Blue Devil uniform and under the guidance of familiar face Overbeck next to Church.
"Mia has been fantastic. She's a very competitive young lady, wants to win and wants to compete. She plays hard and trains hard. Obviously, the spring is much more training and we saw her mentality. She has phenomenal mental toughness and she's really good with the ball," Church explained on Oliaro's impact on the program. "She has really blended in here at Duke, blended in with her teammates. She's really close with her class as she knew a lot of them from national team camps and playing with and against them. So, she's just seamlessly fit into our program, both on and off the field."
Church explained what this relationship means to not only Overbeck and Oliaro, translating to what makes the Duke women's soccer program as special as it is, saying:
"That's what happens when you live in this area. We talked about it before that Mia feels very blessed and very fortunate that she had Carla as a youth coach, and now to be able to connect that in the college ranks and Carla being able to coach her and give her pointers. They have a very special relationship."
Joining Duke, one of the top soccer programs in the nation, presented Oliaro with new challenges. Oliaro's upbringing in competitive sports, reuniting with past teammates and friends, coupled with the Duke staff's mentorship, helped her transition smoothly.
Her adaptability, honed through years of multi-sport participation, allowed her to find her rhythm at Duke.
"Duke played a huge role in my personal development, helping build my confidence and shaping my friendships. It was impactful from a soccer perspective as well. Coming in during the spring, I immediately felt the genuine support from the coaches, not just as a player but as a student and person," Oliaro explained. "I could tell how much they care about us thriving academically and making sure we're doing well mentally and physically. They made sure I was happy, and as a player, they showed me where they believe I can go and how they're going to help me get there."
Overbeck, known for her unwavering commitment to developing young players, has witnessed Oliaro's growth firsthand.
Under the Blue Devil staff, Oliaro's game has reached new heights and as a key player for Duke, she has become known not only for her technical prowess but also for her mental fortitude and leadership on and off the field.
While Oliaro's relationship with Overbeck has undeniably shaped her journey, her own determination and work ethic have been equally crucial.
Despite the physical demands of college soccer, Oliaro's love for the game remains her driving force. Whether she's battling in the midfield, making key defensive plays, or leading an attack, she carries the lessons of her youth with her.
The excitement of reuniting is undeniable for the duo, with Overbeck continuously expressing her excitement to get back into the swing of coaching Oliaro once more, saying:
"We know how special she is as a person and a player. I'm so happy she is at Duke because it is a privilege to coach her for a second time. I'm very excited to help her develop; she has the potential to do some great things collegiately"
As Oliaro looks to the future, the presence of Overbeck on the sidelines serves as both a reminder of her journey and what's to come.
"I'm in an amazing spot and I'm surrounded by the best people and the best spot for me," said Oliaro. "I can now go and use everything that I've learned this spring, and continue to build into the summer, and I like to show them that I'm like a new player again, and I'm back and better from where I was before, and I'm going to keep getting there."
For Oliaro, soccer has always been about more than just winning games — it's about the process, the teamwork, and the relationships built along the way. Her journey, guided by passion, perseverance, and the wisdom of a legendary mentor, is just beginning.
And with the Duke staff by her side, Oliaro is destined for greatness.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's soccer, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWSOC".
Duke Centennial
In 2024, Duke celebrates its Centennial, marking one hundred years since Trinity College became Duke University. Duke will use this historic milestone to deepen the understanding of its history, inspire pride and strengthen bonds and partnerships, and prepare for a second century of continued excellence and impactful leadership. To learn more, please visit 100.duke.edu
#GoDuke
Players Mentioned
F/M
/ Women's SoccerKieran Hall, Cam Roller, and Kat Rader Postgame Vs. Kansas
Monday, November 24
Kieran Hall, Kat Rader, Mia Minestrella Postgame Vs. Elon
Saturday, November 15
Kieran Hall & Kat Rader Postgame Vs. Notre Dame
Friday, November 07
Kieran Hall Postgame Vs. Louisville
Monday, November 03
