Olivia Friel meets a challenge head on.

The Saranac High School freshman is entering her second and final season on the UVM women's soccer team through Team IMPACT.

Team IMPACT is a national nonprofit organization that matches children facing serious illnesses or disabilities with college athletic teams.

Olivia matched with the UVM team in 2023, at age 13, after being referred to Team IMPACT through her nephrologist at UVM Children's Hospital.

Jenn Friel, Olivia's mother, shares that "the UVM Children’s Hospital is deeply embedded in Olivia’s journey. We are so grateful for their ongoing dedication and support. They are why our daughter is thriving today."

The University of Vermont Children's Hospital provides high-quality, child-friendly care with a patient and family-centered approach that improves the health of children throughout Vermont and northern New York. Their mission, in partnership with the UVM Larner College of Medicine, extends beyond hospital walls into the communities served to provide innovative services, treatments and procedures to the youngest, and often most vulnerable, patients.

So it's no surprise they partner with the national organization Team IMPACT, whose mission includes ensuring children with complex medical needs feel supported by something bigger.

Olivia has Barakat Syndrome, a rare genetic condition generally affecting the kidneys, hearing, and/or endocrine system. Not a lot of people are aware they have it - so there is still a lot researchers don't know.

Through Team IMPACT and the fierce, supportive young women rallying around her, Olivia has found the comradery and community otherwise made difficult by medical treatments.

Olivia has been surgery-free for a year, which "feels like a huge accomplishment," Jenn shares.

Her Journey

The University has matched 10 children across its various teams - women's field hockey, women's and men's basketball, women's and men's ice hockey, and men's and women's soccer teams - throughout the past 11 years.

Olivia had hoped to match with UVM Women's Soccer, even though she and her family live 90 minutes away in Redford, New York.

"I was so happy and surprised when I found out the team wanted me!" she says. "The first time I met the team was pretty special, too, and I'll always remember them kicking the ball around with me."

Jenn says her main hope was that "Olivia would regain self-confidence and self-love" through the experience. "The past years have been hard on Liv, medically and socially."

Olivia participates in many of the team's activities, including home games, practices, and other events. She gets to join the team on the field for the starting line-up and has her name announced to the crowd.

Importantly, the team cheers Olivia on and off the field. "They sent me a video while I was at the hospital for a transplant visit," she shares, "and made me a birthday video!" 

"Olivia has really formed some amazing friendships with some of the girls," says Jenn. "She also has become more confident in her daily life, in terms of facing new things and knowing her own worth. She feels part of the team. And she feels their friendship carry over in her day-to-day life, too."

At last year's 8th grade formal, for instance, teammates Bailey Ayer '25 and Amelia Adiutori '26 met Olivia at the University Mall and helped her pick out her formal dress.

Her team gives her courage, Olivia says. "They have shown me how to be fierce on the soccer field, too."

But the best thing, Olivia shares, is they treat her like one of the team. "I'm not the kid wearing hearing aids. I'm not the sick kid. I'm just one of the 11 players on the field," Olivia reflects.

"I love the game so much that I made my mom stop at my soccer practice on our way home from having surgery," she says. "I just needed to see my coach and teammates."

Hustle and Heart

She brings a lot to the team, too.

"I bring heart to the team," Olivia reflects. "I cheer for everyone. I love to play. I'm not afraid to go after the ball and I have a pretty powerful kick!"

"Student athletes balance many difficult things of their own," Coach Kristi Huizenga, Head Coach of the UVM Women's Soccer Team, explains, "rigorous class and practice schedules and travel in season. The highs and lows of wins and losses, and things like injuries for players are difficult to deal with, but oftentimes they are temporary."

No matter the challenge, Olivia's resilience and optimism persists, lending perspective to the team and her coaches.

"I think we have both given each other strength through this relationship in times of need," Coach Kristi reflects, "and we just love having her as part of our family."

"It has been a privilege to see her grow more comfortable and see her confidence grow," Coach Kristi adds. "She has her own group chat with some of our team members and we love when she is able to come to team events like media days or team meals, games, or practices - she even shared her birthday with us, which was so much fun. We know how challenging her situation is and always want her to know she has our entire squad behind her as an extended family to give her a little extra boost when things are tough."

"Olivia has been a wonderful addition to the UVM Women's Soccer Team."

Chasing Goals

​Moving into her last year with Team IMPACT, Olivia says she is looking forward to making more memories and having a healthy year.

She still keeps in touch with some of the recent graduates and former teammates, including her favorite UVM goalie, Erin Murphy '24. "Erin also came back to visit me after she graduated. She showed up to support me at a Team IMPACT event and we had ice cream together before she left for her new coaching job."

Someday, Olivia thinks she might want to go into criminal justice or nursing - or become a soccer coach herself.

For the time being, Olivia is a fun-loving fourteen-year-old with an exciting future ahead of her. She loves gym class, history, English - and learning TikTok dances.

A typical Friday night away from the field might find her and her sister Lydia singing along to the musical Hamilton, or swapping SnapChats with friends.

But her mother Jenn makes sure she can attend as many UVM Women's Soccer events and games as they can. Even Olivia's aunt and grandparents come catch the starting lineups.

"My sister is always with me, at every game and every event," Olivia shares. "My parents drive us from New York to Vermont so I can be part of the team. And they are my biggest cheerleaders."

Jenn shares that seeing Olivia develop meaningful friendships and putting herself out there makes the long drives worth it - and has brought her to tears on several occasions. She wants the team to know "how truly grateful I am for this experience." 

"It's not the big, grand spectacles that Olivia will remember the most," Jenn shares. "It's the one-on-one conversations, the fun text exchanges, the kicking the ball around sessions, the hugs and the laughter that she'll hold onto."

"The UVM women's soccer team has brought back my girl's smile. And for that, I am forever grateful."