LA JOLLA, Calif. – Triton women's soccer alumna and UC San Diego Athletics marketing assistant Megumi Barber will be speaking at the upcoming Soccer Parenting 101 Summit. The virtual summit, which is free to attend, will take place Oct. 22-24. Barber will be speaking in the "Going Pro?" session on Oct. 24.
 
The summit's attendees will hear from members of the soccer community, including players, coaches, nutritionists, and more. The sessions will focus on helping parents understand what it takes for their children to become successful soccer players and how they can positively motivate them.
 
During Barber's session, she will share her personal experiences as a player from the club to the collegiate level. Barber, a San Diego native, competed for PQ Premier/San Diego Soccer Club from 2005-15 before her time at UC San Diego.
 
While with the Tritons from 2015-18, Barber helped UC San Diego to four consecutive California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Tournament titles. She closed her career with numerous accolades, including a spot on the United Soccer Coaches All-West Region First Team.
 
Barber is looking forward to recalling her journey when she speaks at the upcoming summit.
 
"I am extremely grateful to be joining some prominent figures in the soccer community and to share my personal journey within the soccer world," Barber said. "I've been lucky to have had such supportive parents to guide me to success, and I hope that this summit can help other parents do the same for their kids.
 
"I've always strived to share my passion for the sport with others, and I truly believe that parents have the biggest and most important influence in doing so," Barber reflected. "I've received so much help and guidance on my journey from those around me, especially coaches like Ruben Martinez, who hosted this summit, and feel so lucky to have a platform to give back to my community!"
 
Barber is not the only Triton representative at the summit, as former UC San Diego men's soccer assistant coach Nick Perera is also taking part. Perera's session "Growing Up Soccer" is slated for Oct. 24.
 
For more information on the Soccer Parenting 101 Summit, click here.
 
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program begins a new era in 2020 as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 37 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.