Welcome to Week 10 of The BIG LIFE, where Paige Thompson (Alabama) and Jaiden Rodriguez (USC) are joined by Jaiden's teammate and longtime friend Aly Hou!

With conference season in full swing, the girls are discovering that life as a Division I soccer player can start to feel a little like Groundhog Day. Same routines, same exhaustion, different opponents.

This week, they're talking about the reality of college soccer versus what they imagined before arriving on campus. From the pressure of playing time and the fear of making mistakes to the physical demands of the college game, the conversation gets surprisingly real.

But don't worry, there's plenty of chaos, too. Paige may have overdone it on the pickleball court, Jaiden is celebrating being back on the field, and Aly is navigating the ups and downs of her season. Plus, procrastinated homework, sweet treat runs, video games, Halloween plans, and the very important question of whether the girls would survive a weekend visiting each other's campuses.

It's an episode about finding the fun in the routine, managing expectations, and remembering that there's a whole life happening outside the soccer field.

🎙️ Hosted by Paige Thompson (Alabama) and Jaiden Rodriguez (USC), with special guest Aly Hou (USC).

The BIG LIFE is a Girls Soccer Network original podcast bringing you inside the world of Division I women's soccer, straight from the players living it.