NEW WILMINGTON — When Julia Redilla felt weary during summer workouts, she pushed through it.

She had one goal on her mind during the heat and the fatigue. She had one thought when she felt like she couldn't continue.

Starting her first collegiate game on the soccer pitch at Westminster.

When the day came and she was in the starting lineup at home against Wisconsin-Platteville, Redilla could hardly contain her excitement.

“Walking into that first game, I really wanted to start. I really wanted to make a positive impact,” Redilla said. “When (Westminster women's soccer coach Girish Thakar) told me I was starting, my jaw dropped.”

Redilla made the most of her opportunity and in the process fulfilled a dream she had about her first collegiate match.

Scoring a goal.

“I dreamt about it,” she said. “I really did.”

The score came in the 42nd minute of her first game.

Kayla Trozzi had a breakaway, but the Wisconsin-Platteville keeper came out to try to smother the ball. The two collided and the ball deflected right to Redilla, who buried the shot.

“My first thought was I hope (Trozzi) is OK,” Redilla said. “That was in the back of my mind, then it was the excitement of having a shot.”

Redilla also had an assist in that 3-2 overtime win.

“Scoring a goal was the icing on the cake,” Redilla said. “My smile didn't go away all night. I still replay that goal in my head.”

Redilla was Presidents' Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week for her effort.

Redilla wasn't even aware there was such an award.

“Really, I had no idea that was even a thing,” Redilla said, laughing. “When I found out I was like, 'Rookie of the Week? What is that?'”

Redilla certainly knows what it is now.

She's earned the recognition twice.

Redilla was named the conference rookie of the week again after scoring the match-winning goal against previously unbeaten Baldwin Wallace.

Two weeks. Two awards.

Redilla already has three goals, an assist and seven points in six matches for the 4-2 Titans.

“I would not be where I am without my team,” Redilla said. “I've been pushed to my fullest potential. Every single person on the team, from the coaches to my teammates, has been so great. We're all working hard and it show hard work doesn't go unnoticed.”

Redilla was a mainstay in the lineup at Seneca Valley, where she was a starter at midfield since her sophomore season.

As a senior last fall, she scored eight goals to go with 12 assists for the Raiders. She was an all-section and all-WPIAL selection an.

Redilla said she knew the transition between high school and college was going to be a challenging one.

“The intensity, it changes. It really does,” Redilla said. “High School soccer is fast-paced, but it's a different level in college. Every girl has touch. Everyone has a good shot.

“I feel like I've grown as a player every year I've played,” Redilla added. “One of my goals every year it to get better.”

Redilla is majoring in psychology.

“I want to be a occupational therapist when I grow up,” she said.

She's already grown up on the soccer pitch and she said she knows she'll be able to handle the challenges that are ahead.

“Everyone hits a brick wall sometimes,” Redilla said. “It's how you deal with it and how you get back up and move on from that. Everyone has bad days.

“This is life,” Redilla said. “It's not high school anymore.”

Redilla said she believes fate brought her to Westminster.

“Everything happens for a reason,” she said. “Everyone is super super happy here and that's what I love about my team and this school.”