Signing with the Sun Devils in May 2025, sophomore forward and midfielder Sierra Bergen joined this season of ASU soccer, wanting more.
Originally hailing from Cultus Lake, British Columbia, Bergen spent her freshman year at Mississippi State, playing in seven games for the Bulldogs.
"I wanted to play more and went into the transfer portal," Bergen said. "(I) had a great conversation with Graham (Winkworth) and the coaching staff here at ASU and ultimately decided that I wanted to transfer here and haven't looked back since."
Bergen's wants have been answered this season in Tempe, where she's played and started in 10 out of 11 matches for the Sun Devils. She's maintained this starting position through her strong work ethic.
Her drive was something head coach Graham Winkworth noticed during Bergen's club days. Winkworth believed Bergen's hard work and verbal presence on the field made her a wonderful fit for the team.
"I could see what type of worker she was," Winkworth said. "But then also I could see what type of teammate she was from the way she communicated with her teammates and the camaraderie that she brings to the environment."
A team with injured players in Bergen's position threw her onto the field faster than expected, but she's thrived in this role, embracing a heavy amount of playing time, Winkworth said.
As a transfer student herself, senior forward and midfielder Cameron Valladares remembers the challenge that came with adapting to a brand-new team. Following Valladares' sophomore year at UA, she left the Wildcats for the Sun Devils.
Valladares recalls how it can be difficult to "make your way" as a transfer, but this wasn't the case for Bergen, who solidified a role for herself from the start.
"Everyone loved Bergie (Bergen) from the start," Valladares said. "She's like the kindest girl on the team; does everything for everyone. So I think you could see that the team really supports her on the field, too. We want to get her on the ball (and) we want her to score."
So far in Bergen's time as a Sun Devil, her natural positivity has seeped into the environment around her, shaping team chemistry, Winkworth said. She contributes to the culture on and off the field by conversing with her teammates and working to understand them.
Bergen is an approachable teammate who is quick to clarify plays on the field, working to get on the same page as her peers, Valladares said.
"She's very communicative," Valladares said. "(She) wants to understand how everyone plays, and wants us to understand how she plays."
Bergen has enjoyed the opportunity to work with so many talented athletes this season. On the field, she's aimed to contribute by being a professional and putting effort in every chance she gets.
Her efforts contributed to a 5-1 Sun Devil win over Texas State earlier this season, where Bergen scored her first collegiate goal and followed it up with a second. Another goal by Bergen in early September supported an ASU win against Denver.
The feeling of scoring her first goal for Sun Devil soccer felt "unreal," something she felt coming before the game, and she can't wait to keep it up for the rest of the season, Bergen said.
"My goals are to, especially as the striker, score more," Bergen said. "I'm trying to score at least eight goals in conference play, so hopefully that happens."
Edited by Alan Deutschendorf, Henry Smardo and Ellis Preston.
Reach the reporter at cjoneil6@asu.edu and follow @cjojournalism on X.
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Char O’Neil is a junior studying sports journalism with a minor in special events management. This is her second semester with The State Press. She has also reported for AZPreps365, Blaze Radio and Phoenix College Basketball.
