University of Georgia Athletics
‘You Might As Well Try’
October 03, 2025 | Soccer, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
In the span of four minutes after practice Tuesday morning, Georgia soccer midfielder Kiera Staude answered a question about whether or not she's a perfectionist, and, in a separate interview, her coach, Keidane McAlpine, brought up the word unsolicited.
"You know what, she is a perfectionist," McAlpine said when asked what Staude brings to the team.
Here's what Staude said a few minutes before that: "I would say I'm a little bit of a perfectionist, but at the same time, when I try to be perfect, I feel like that's how you get a lot of anxiety — sports anxiety and performance anxiety. That's a real thing, so I try not to say, Oh, I have to do this perfectly. I think it's more, I have to give 100% in this. And if I do that and then I fail, that's fine, but you might as well try."
Staude clearly tries at everything she does. The junior from Atlanta has started 54 of 57 career games heading into the No. 17-ranked Bulldogs' matchup Sunday against LSU at the Turner Soccer Complex. She has six career goals — five of them coming this season — and two assists. In the classroom, she was a Presidential Scholar her first two years, meaning she earned a 4.0 GPA. Staude was also recently inducted into L.E.A.D., the UGA Athletic Association's Leadership and Development Academy.
"I've definitely always been like this," she said. "If I know I can do something well if I put effort into it, why would I not put effort into it? My parents never really worried about my grades, because I was more worried about them than they were."
Staude comes from an athletic family. Her mother, Alisa, played college basketball at a couple of small schools in Michigan, and Staude's sister, Talia, had a great soccer career at Virginia — she ranks second all-time at UVA in minutes and games played — and is now with the North Carolina Courage in the NWSL.
Over the summer, the Staude sisters spent time training together. "I just absolutely loved it," she said, adding that having a sister playing professionally only inspires her to work harder to follow in Talia's footsteps.
"Thinking about in two years (after graduation) and never playing soccer again, it's just not in the cards for me. I didn't think about it that way when I was a freshman, because I was like, I've got four years, I've got so long, and now the clock's ticking. I'm like, wait, hold on, I'm not done yet," she said.
Soccer and basketball were Staude's main sports growing up, and she loved playing both. While she was a standout soccer player, good enough to be selected to multiple U.S. youth national teams, she was also voted All-Region three times during her prep basketball career at Westminster.
All of that time on the basketball court serves her well on the soccer field, she said.
"I think it helps a ton, from a communication standpoint, from a quickness standpoint, and even as a defender," she said.
McAlpine sees how basketball has helped Staude develop as a player and an overall athlete. He saw the same thing with Croix Bethune, a second-team All-American with the Bulldogs in 2023, a member of the U.S. Olympic team in 2024, and the NWSL Rookie of the Year in '24 as a member of the Washington Spirit.
"Croix was a point guard, and similar to her, (Staude) recognizes small slips and spaces and movements based on what the other team is doing," McAlpine said. "I do think that helps with basketball players translating into soccer, because they're not just looking at their teammates, they're recognizing the defenders and where they're moving and what spaces are open because of the way things are happening."
Staude was primarily a defender for Georgia during her first two seasons, but she is now playing the midfield — and playing well. While the highlight of her season was a three-goal performance against North Florida on Aug. 28, Staude has been a consistent, steadying force in a Bulldog lineup that has had a lot of players in and out due to injuries.
"I've been kind of all over the place, but I would say this is probably my favorite position so far," she said.
As for that hat trick, something not many players get to experience in college, Staude was as surprised as anyone.
"I typically feel like I'm much more of an assist kid; I haven't scored very many goals in my career," she said. "But that was a blast. I didn't even really realize that it was happening. When I scored two, I was like, That's really cool, but I didn't think I would have a third.
"It was just fun, and my team was so supportive, with everyone just so happy for me. It was a very wholesome moment."
There was no performance anxiety that day. In fact, McAlpine said any issues Staude had with putting too much pressure on herself to be flawless have disappeared. And the result is a quiet leader and captain who strives to get better every day.
"I think that's a learned response since she's been here. I think she came in intense about class, intense about being a part of this team, and now, I feel like she's gotten to that space where her shoulders are down (relaxed)," McAlpine said. "I think she's like, I understand what's going on, I feel comfortable in my own skin and with my place in the world, and I'm good.
"I do think her level of responsibility toward being great makes her a great leader and captain for this group, because she doesn't always use her words. But (her teammates) can't help but notice how she goes about preparation and playing and the work. I think that's part of her, whether it's in class or whether it's on the field, that you can't help but see that and go, Oh, okay, that's what it's supposed to look like."
Staff Writer
In the span of four minutes after practice Tuesday morning, Georgia soccer midfielder Kiera Staude answered a question about whether or not she's a perfectionist, and, in a separate interview, her coach, Keidane McAlpine, brought up the word unsolicited.
"You know what, she is a perfectionist," McAlpine said when asked what Staude brings to the team.
Here's what Staude said a few minutes before that: "I would say I'm a little bit of a perfectionist, but at the same time, when I try to be perfect, I feel like that's how you get a lot of anxiety — sports anxiety and performance anxiety. That's a real thing, so I try not to say, Oh, I have to do this perfectly. I think it's more, I have to give 100% in this. And if I do that and then I fail, that's fine, but you might as well try."
Staude clearly tries at everything she does. The junior from Atlanta has started 54 of 57 career games heading into the No. 17-ranked Bulldogs' matchup Sunday against LSU at the Turner Soccer Complex. She has six career goals — five of them coming this season — and two assists. In the classroom, she was a Presidential Scholar her first two years, meaning she earned a 4.0 GPA. Staude was also recently inducted into L.E.A.D., the UGA Athletic Association's Leadership and Development Academy.
"I've definitely always been like this," she said. "If I know I can do something well if I put effort into it, why would I not put effort into it? My parents never really worried about my grades, because I was more worried about them than they were."
Staude comes from an athletic family. Her mother, Alisa, played college basketball at a couple of small schools in Michigan, and Staude's sister, Talia, had a great soccer career at Virginia — she ranks second all-time at UVA in minutes and games played — and is now with the North Carolina Courage in the NWSL.
Over the summer, the Staude sisters spent time training together. "I just absolutely loved it," she said, adding that having a sister playing professionally only inspires her to work harder to follow in Talia's footsteps.
"Thinking about in two years (after graduation) and never playing soccer again, it's just not in the cards for me. I didn't think about it that way when I was a freshman, because I was like, I've got four years, I've got so long, and now the clock's ticking. I'm like, wait, hold on, I'm not done yet," she said.
Soccer and basketball were Staude's main sports growing up, and she loved playing both. While she was a standout soccer player, good enough to be selected to multiple U.S. youth national teams, she was also voted All-Region three times during her prep basketball career at Westminster.
All of that time on the basketball court serves her well on the soccer field, she said.
"I think it helps a ton, from a communication standpoint, from a quickness standpoint, and even as a defender," she said.
McAlpine sees how basketball has helped Staude develop as a player and an overall athlete. He saw the same thing with Croix Bethune, a second-team All-American with the Bulldogs in 2023, a member of the U.S. Olympic team in 2024, and the NWSL Rookie of the Year in '24 as a member of the Washington Spirit.
"Croix was a point guard, and similar to her, (Staude) recognizes small slips and spaces and movements based on what the other team is doing," McAlpine said. "I do think that helps with basketball players translating into soccer, because they're not just looking at their teammates, they're recognizing the defenders and where they're moving and what spaces are open because of the way things are happening."
Staude was primarily a defender for Georgia during her first two seasons, but she is now playing the midfield — and playing well. While the highlight of her season was a three-goal performance against North Florida on Aug. 28, Staude has been a consistent, steadying force in a Bulldog lineup that has had a lot of players in and out due to injuries.
"I've been kind of all over the place, but I would say this is probably my favorite position so far," she said.
As for that hat trick, something not many players get to experience in college, Staude was as surprised as anyone.
"I typically feel like I'm much more of an assist kid; I haven't scored very many goals in my career," she said. "But that was a blast. I didn't even really realize that it was happening. When I scored two, I was like, That's really cool, but I didn't think I would have a third.
"It was just fun, and my team was so supportive, with everyone just so happy for me. It was a very wholesome moment."
There was no performance anxiety that day. In fact, McAlpine said any issues Staude had with putting too much pressure on herself to be flawless have disappeared. And the result is a quiet leader and captain who strives to get better every day.
"I think that's a learned response since she's been here. I think she came in intense about class, intense about being a part of this team, and now, I feel like she's gotten to that space where her shoulders are down (relaxed)," McAlpine said. "I think she's like, I understand what's going on, I feel comfortable in my own skin and with my place in the world, and I'm good.
"I do think her level of responsibility toward being great makes her a great leader and captain for this group, because she doesn't always use her words. But (her teammates) can't help but notice how she goes about preparation and playing and the work. I think that's part of her, whether it's in class or whether it's on the field, that you can't help but see that and go, Oh, okay, that's what it's supposed to look like."
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files.
Players Mentioned
Midfielder/Defender
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