Welcome back to the RU Strong Podcast, where we dive deep into the stories of athletes who define perseverance, passion, and purpose.

Today, I’m fired up to welcome another University of Maine Black Bear and one of the most impressive student-athletes to ever come through that program, Tiana Bucknor.

Tiana’s journey started north of the border in Milton, Ontario, where she first fell in love with soccer, though not right away. She played basketball, volleyball, and ran track before realizing the sport that would take her around the world was,in fact, soccer. Her dedication and talent led her first to the University of Dayton, and later to the University of Maine, where she became team captain, an Outstanding Graduating International Student, and a Presidential Scholar with an incredible 3.95 GPA in kinesiology and she didn’t stop there. Tiana went on to earn her master’s degree in kinesiology with a 4.0 GPA.

After playing professionally in the U.K. for the London Bees, Tiana has come full circle returning to her alma mater as an Assistant Coach for the University of Maine Women’s Soccer Team, where she now mentors the next generation of Black Bears on and off the field.

In this episode, we talk about her journeyfrom navigating the recruiting process and overcoming coaching transitions to finding balance as a student-athlete, rediscovering her love for the game, and building the mental toughness it takes to thrive at both the collegiate andprofessional levels.

Get ready for an inspiring conversation with someone who truly embodies what it means to be RU Strong, TianaBucknor.