Starting as early as Pee Wee soccer, 2016 Windham High School graduate Ciera Berthiaume began her athletic career. She is now a second-year grad student at the University of Southern Maine and is working toward her master’s degree in leadership studies.
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| Windham High graduate Ciera Berthiaume keeps her focus while playing for the University of Southern Maine during the 2022 women's soccer season. PHOTIO BY JAMES LIEBOWITZ |
She took a break from the sport during her freshman and sophomore years of college. She started playing again because she missed it and its atmosphere.
During the 2022 season, Berthiaume helped lead the USM women’s soccer team to a Little East Conference (LEC) Championship win which advanced the team to the first round of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Championship.
“She is a remarkable mixture of athleticism and soccer technique,” said University of Southern Maine Women’s head soccer coach Seth Benjamin. “I don’t think you find many players that are as strong and as fast and as technical as Cici. She’s the all-time lead scorer for our program; I think people and teams have tended to underestimate her just thinking that she’s super strong and fast and she gets in really tight spots and gets double-teamed and she’s able to beat people on the dribble, keep the ball for us; she’s kind of the whole deal.”
She’s grown so much as a person and player in the USM program, Benjamin said. Her confidence and leadership skills have improved, and she has a great ability to bring people together and make them feel comfortable; everyone on the team looks to Berthiaume for her experience and guidance.
Benjamin says that he’s excited to see what's next for her.
"I grew up playing against siblings that never let me off the hook so when I decided to start playing again it was my determination that helped me get to where I am now,” said Berthiaume.
This season she got the opportunity to play with another Windham High graduate, Julia McKenna. They are a few years apart but were able to play together and contribute to a stellar season with the Huskies.
“I was in middle school when she was in high school playing,” said McKenna. “I do remember going
and watching her play at her high school games and thinking I wanted to be just like her. I will miss playing with her next year.”
During the 2022 USM Women’s Soccer season, Berthiaume set the University of Southern Maine women’s soccer career records with 43 goals, 20 assists and 106 overall points. Berthiaume’s also a four-time All-Little East Conference player, Second-Team player in 2018 and 2019 and First-Team player in 2021 and 2022.
Berthiaume said the accolades are something she tries not to think about. She is grateful for the second chance to play at USM and can’t wait to see where the program goes next.
When she began playing for USM in 2018, she had a goal to become LEC champions and playing for Windham taught her how to handle her nerves in high-stakes games.
She says the team plays because it’s fun and in high stakes situations it’s important to remember the foundation of why they are there. It’s been years of hard work and putting in time outside of the season to finally reach the finish line of becoming LEC champions this season.
Berthiaume likes to read and write in her free time and says she might have too many books she wants to read. She also enjoys walking her dogs and getting outside in the fresh air. <
"I grew up playing against siblings that never let me off the hook so when I decided to start playing again it was my determination that helped me get to where I am now,” said Berthiaume.
This season she got the opportunity to play with another Windham High graduate, Julia McKenna. They are a few years apart but were able to play together and contribute to a stellar season with the Huskies.
“I was in middle school when she was in high school playing,” said McKenna. “I do remember going
and watching her play at her high school games and thinking I wanted to be just like her. I will miss playing with her next year.”
During the 2022 USM Women’s Soccer season, Berthiaume set the University of Southern Maine women’s soccer career records with 43 goals, 20 assists and 106 overall points. Berthiaume’s also a four-time All-Little East Conference player, Second-Team player in 2018 and 2019 and First-Team player in 2021 and 2022.
Berthiaume said the accolades are something she tries not to think about. She is grateful for the second chance to play at USM and can’t wait to see where the program goes next.
When she began playing for USM in 2018, she had a goal to become LEC champions and playing for Windham taught her how to handle her nerves in high-stakes games.
She says the team plays because it’s fun and in high stakes situations it’s important to remember the foundation of why they are there. It’s been years of hard work and putting in time outside of the season to finally reach the finish line of becoming LEC champions this season.
Berthiaume likes to read and write in her free time and says she might have too many books she wants to read. She also enjoys walking her dogs and getting outside in the fresh air. <
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