Article written by Evan Ream with The Davis Enterprise. For full article, go to http://www.davisenterprise.com/sports/soccer-junkie-miras-cannot-stop-scoring-for-arc/

Possibly the only thing that can stop 2017 Davis High grad and American River College freshman Tiffany Miras is her own schedule.

In fact, it could be argued that the No. 6 leading goal-scorer among California's community colleges has one glaring "problem": She loves soccer too much.

"She's a total soccer junkie, to the fact that she referees on the weekends," said ARC head coach Paul Arellanes. "We've had to talk to her a little bit about not reducing it, but just be aware of how many games she's refereeing. We'll play on a Friday and then on Saturday and Sunday she may ref six games.

"She's doing something with soccer seven days a week, so we have to make sure that she's aware of how much down time she spends on the field and kind of monitor that."

So far, though, Miras' play on the field hasn't been impacted by her arduous schedule, as DHS' leading goal-scorer in the 2016 spring season has banged in 16 goals to go along with eight assists for American River, 9-4-1.

But up until recently, it was unclear to outsiders where, or if, Miras would play college soccer.

While she almost surely would have again made the DHS varsity team her senior year, Miras elected to take the year off from soccer, also quitting her high-level San Juan club team.

Instead, she just played in the local adult league, the Davis Adult Recreational Soccer League, where she also refereed.

"It was a great experience playing (club), but it was just really expensive," Miras said. "I just decided to take a year off from that. DARSL kept me getting a few touches on the ball here and there."

Despite mostly being out of the recruiting picture, Miras kept in contact with college programs such as Sacramento State and CSU Monterey Bay, with the latter offering her a scholarship that she turned down.

Instead, like most of her family, she elected to enroll in community college, much to the appreciation of Arellanes.

"She's come in and done exactly what we hoped she could do and that's individually either to score a goal or help create a goal," Arellanes said. "For the last four or five years, we haven't had an out-and-out goal-scorer. It puts a lot of pressure on the team when you don't have somebody up top that you can rely on to get you a goal."

Her teammates embraced her, too, electing her a captain as a freshman, something that Arellanes said hasn't happened in his tenure at the program.

As the goals keep pouring in, four-year programs are sure to come calling for a player who does have aspirations of playing at the highest level possible.

Arellanes cited her positive qualities: "She can strike the ball well, she's got good pace, she's physically strong, her technique is good," before adding that he thinks Miras could play at a mid-major Division-I program.

"I don't think I could be able to play at a top Division-I college, but I would like to play at a Division-II or NAIA school," Miras said. "That's my goal, to transfer to a four-year school and continue playing. But I think I'll be done playing soccer after my college years and then just continue with refereeing."

And when she's done, this "soccer junkie" aspires to referee at the highest level.

"I love soccer; soccer has always been a passion and a love for me and my family," Miras said. "For refereeing, I want to possibly be a FIFA ref someday and ref in the World Cup."

Already one of the youngest female state-certified referees in California, Miras recently received certification to officiate at the high school and college levels.

Don't be surprised if you see her in the middle of the pitch at your local games soon. But first, she has three years left of eligibility after this one.

Not bad for someone who took a year off.

"I've been enjoying it," Miras said of the experience playing so far. "It's a good group of girls. I'm pretty grateful to be a captain, especially as a freshman."

Article written by Evan Ream with The Davis Enterprise. For full article, go to http://www.davisenterprise.com/sports/soccer-junkie-miras-cannot-stop-scoring-for-arc/