Freshman forward Lila Dere is just 18 years old and already leads Colorado Mesa University (CMU) in goals and points.

Dere has become a natural on the soccer field. Since the moment she stepped foot on the field, she knew this is the sport she was born to play. 

During her time at Fruita Monument High School, Dere garnered five all-state honorable mention nods (one was in basketball), led all of Colorado in goals her junior year and became Fruita Monument’s all time leading scorer. But for Dere, this is nothing unusual.

“Ever since I was little, I’ve always been good at scoring goals. It’s come natural to me,” Dere said.  

As a freshman, Dere leads Mesa in goals with six and in points with 12. From the perspective of junior midfielder Lexi Newton, her abilities revealed themselves quickly.

“My first impression was, ‘Wow, she can score,’” Newton said.

Her success on the field has not gone unnoticed by others as well. Dere was named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference offensive player of the week on March 31. 

Dere’s prep success led to offers from big schools like the University of Denver, University of Utah and the University of Colorado, all of which she rejected in favor of the chance to be close to the outdoors, home and her family.

“I see them pretty much everyday. Sometimes twice a day,” Dere said. 

When asked about what Dere owes to her success, much of it comes down to one thing. 

“My hard work ethic. I’m always doing something. Everyday I’m lifting, or trail running, or going out to shoot. I’ve done pretty good so far, but I was having way higher hopes of doing better the first couple games,” Dere said.

This inability to be satisfied is reflected by Dere’s relentless training regimen.

“I go at least three hours a day. Sometimes more. My mom actually gets mad at me. [She’ll say] ‘you’ve been doing this for like four hours today,’” Dere said.

Newton also talked about the lengths to which Dere is willing to go to improve. 

“She’s hardworking but to the next level. She’s willing to do anything. I always see her out on the field way before practice,” Newton said.

Dere’s unparalleled work ethic translated onto the soccer field at an early stage in the season catching the eye of CMUs head coach, Megan Remec.

“She has a maturity, a strong sense of self, and she’s very fit. We ran our fitness test in January and she was the top scorer as a freshman,” Remec said.  

Dere admits she owes much of her success to those closest to her.

“My parents’ support and my team. I wouldn’t be able to do anything without my team,” Dere said.

Perhaps paramount to Dere’s success has been her father, Brian. When it comes to commitment to his children, he never falters. 

“My dad will drop anything to come help,” Dere said. “He’s helped me a lot with mental toughness. He’s taught me to love pressure,”

Dere’s excellence doesn’t stop at soccer either. During her junior year at Fruita Monument, she decided to add basketball into her athletic arsenal after playing it only briefly in elementary school. 

“My junior year, I decided I’ll just go out for the team and see if I can make it. I ended up being the leading scorer and the captain. Sometimes I almost like it more than soccer,” Dere said. 

“She’s not here for anyone else’s expectations. She’s here for her own,” Remec said. 

Her superior athletic ability, innate instinct for goal scoring and a work ethic is who Dere is as an athlete.

“The person she is off the field is reflected into the person she is on the field. She’s so nice and so caring and then on the field she can be what you need. She’s always bringing people up and always there,” Newton said. 

Dere will be scoring goals for CMU on a record pace for years to come. 

Dere and the rest of the women’s soccer team will compete one last time in the regular season as they compete against Fort Lewis College on April 16 in Durango, Colo. at 3 p.m.