PEORIA, Ill. --- Aidan Hill knows that a lot of good can come from leaning into the intrinsic motivation to work hard and train, even when hardly anyone is watching.

The internal fire that stokes the Biola Eagles to be an excellent program this coming spring and beyond is the same drive that led Hill to bounce back from a year-long injury after his senior year of high school. And pressing through that challenge has made Hill an accomplished collegiate player and an excellent addition to Head Coach Torrey Stricklin's team. 

"What I am most excited about with the players we have already brought in, and the players we are continuing to bring in, is that not only are they quality players on the field, but they are quality men off the field as well. Aidan is no exception to that," said Coach Stricklin. "I am really excited to bring in a player of Aidan's quality mid-year and I look forward to the impact he will have on our program. 

"Aidan has qualities that cannot be taught. He understands the game at a very high level and his creativity on the ball and ability to solve problems is something that will help us significantly right away."

Hill's savviness as a player is evident from his statistics over his first two seasons as a collegiate player. The midfielder truly earned an opportunity to play NCAA Division I soccer at USC Upstate, averaging about 60 minutes over the course of 14 appearances and scoring three goals in a four-match stretch to end the campaign. And he earned that opportunity by recording 15 points for a Barton Community College team that had a 20-match undefeated streak and advanced to the NJCAA National Championship Match in 2018.

But what makes Hill's dependable production all the more impressive is that the Peoria Notre Dame High School grad had to completely rebuild his foundation of fitness due to an injury before joining the Barton Cougars. Hill worked his way to being able to play in 25 matches and was a dependable spark plug as a substitute for the 2018 national runner-up squad, scoring three goals and assisting on six others specifically as a replacement. 

In a way, that experience will help equip Hill for inserting himself into the program midway through the academic year. But the transfer is pursuing the challenge and opportunity with eagerness because Biola's soccer program and academic environment will help him pursue his personal goals. 

"I chose Biola because the project that Coach Stricklin is building and the school has the major I want to pursue," said Hill.

Aidan Hill will pursue a BFA in Studio Art at Biola and will join an Eagles team that intends to begin matches in early February. He and the rest of the student-athletes who sign with Biola during the 2020-21 signing period will be listed on the Committed Athletes page.