| How would you describe the coaching staff? |
| KS: Sue will bake you cookies after a good game, Betsy will let you play with her dog Maggie-- the cutest thing in the world! And if that’s not enough they also know how to keep a great group of friends motivated enough to compete with some of the best DIII teams in the nation. It’s really great to have two coaches who greatly understand the team dynamic. |
| Best soccer memory: |
| KS: Beating Denison at home when they were ranked no. 7 in the nation was pretty awesome. I would definitely say that game was a showcase as to what our team could look like if we played more consistently… we had a lot of great connecting passes, we dominated the middle by winning first and second balls, used our outside mids more than usual and Anya added some amazing saves. Also, our game against W&J this year should have been awful because we were waiting down in the training room for 2 hours because of a delay of game due to lightning. The wait should have been boring but our team used the time to have a four square tournament involving everyone including our ball boys and our trainer Ivan. Best warm up ever… we destroyed W&J. |
| Best thing about Pittsburgh: |
| KS: There are too many things to name: Steelers, Permanti Bros, Andy Warhol, Pamela’s Pancakes… before I came here I really did not expect Pittsburgh to be anything special and I realize now I was very wrong. I think it’s one of those places you just don’t appreciate until you’ve spent some time there. |
| What made you come to Carnegie Mellon and has your first year experience lived up to your expectations on and off of the soccer field? |
KS: What made me apply to Carnegie Mellon was the fact that CMU is the perfect combination of outstanding academics and competitive soccer. Athletically the UAA provides the best Division III competition possible, combining schools with similar philosophies that provide their athletes with outstanding education and the experience of a Division I travel schedule with a Division III commitment. I consider myself to be a person who likes to have many dimensions to my life to accommodate my different interests; therefore I’m lucky to have a college experience that is multifaceted and not completely dominated by soccer.
Also, I wanted first to go to a school that I knew would be academically challenging and would also give me an advantage in the job market upon graduation. CMU has consistently had some of the best statistics in the country of graduates either securing a job or continuing to graduate school upon graduation. I also found that what sets CMU apart from many other schools is that innovation and imagination can be found in every school, program, and individual on campus. CMU students learn to apply their studies to what is presently happening in the world and focus on finding ways to use research and technical skills to make possible the changes they want to see. Students here don’t just learn. They also research, apply, and do. The atmosphere is unbelievable, and is the most I could ask for in an undergraduate experience. |
| You are one of ten freshmen in the program that the upper classmen have affectionately named “The Puppies.” Why did they choose that title? What has it been like to be part of such a large class? |
| KS: I guess the upperclassmen couldn’t resist when they saw all of us freshmen wandering around campus like lost puppies during preseason and the first week of school. I love the girls in my year here at CMU. At my high school I was the only member of my class who played soccer junior and senior year and as much as I loved my team there was at times definitely something missing from the experience. It was amazing in the beginning of the year to have so many people who were experiencing their first preseason, figuring out how to do laundry and find their classes and in general making the transition to college... we didn’t want to leave each other for a second, hence the nickname. Hahahaha. |
| This season you started and played nearly every minute of every game for the Tartans. How were you able to make the transition from high school and club ball to the college game? |
KS: Everyone on my club team is a year older than me in school so this summer I was playing with incoming college sophomores and I think that training with them and hearing them talk about their college experiences really helped me transition to the college level. I was worried when my friends at Division I schools complained about not getting playing time until junior year and being benched for not passing fitness tests. When I finally got to preseason I realized what a good decision I made choosing Carnegie Mellon, a place where I could play for four years with coaches who understood that their players love soccer but also have other commitments in their lives such as academics. Mentally just knowing there was this opportunity to have a great experience really helped me play hard and make an easy transition.
Also, I think the most important thing to realize is that after every practice and every game, there is only improvement so there is no reason to ever get too down on yourself after a bad play. Experience is what makes better players and I cannot be thankful enough that I had the opportunity to play with players like Rosie, Abby and DeWath who just dominate when they are on the field. Watching the older players work hard and hearing their encouragement throughout the season really helped me adapt to college level play. |
| When you were being recruited to Carnegie Mellon one of the things we talked about with you was how competitive our conference, The University Athletic Association, is from top to bottom in every sport. Did conference play live up to your expectations? |
| KS: Absolutely. It’s incredibly exciting and scary to realize that during your regular season you’re playing against teams that will be playing in the final four in the NCAA tournament. The UAA is filled with players who have Division I potential but decided that they want a small college experience or who decided academically they could benefit more from a Division III commitment. I think the best thing about Division III competition is that you know every player in the UAA plays because they love their sport, not because they are on scholarship or because they are looking to continue soccer after college. The travel schedule is also great, I love the fact that unlike other Division III conferences we get to travel across the country like a Division I program. |
| Perspective students often visit campus with questions about meeting the academic demands of being a student at such an academically challenging institution while competing on the women’s soccer team. Did you have any trouble finding a balance between your academic and athletic commitments? |
| KS: There is always a struggle to maintain a balance between academics and athletics, any player who has gone through playing club soccer in high school knows that. College is the same way. What is great about CMU is that professors understand that athletes have an athletic commitment and they are willing to work with you to accommodate your schedule while you are in season. No one here will punish you for having to take a test early because you will be in Atlanta for the weekend playing soccer. Also, many girls on our team have found time to go abroad to study, and experience you could never have at many Division I and II schools without risking your status on the team. Personally, I benefit from having a demanding schedule because just knowing I have to balance school and soccer helps me perform better in both areas. |
| We traveled to six different states for games this season. What would you say was the most memorable trip and why? |
| KS: This year the most memorable trip was probably when we went on the road to play Emory in Atlanta. Even though we lost we managed to give Emory a really good 1-0 game and had a great time because it was our last game in conference. On the bus ride to and from the airport our team and the boys soccer team jammed to Disney tunes and our favorite boy bands. |
| What upperclassmen do you look up to the most and why? |
| KS: That’s a tough one because all our upperclassmen are so great. I can honestly say I like every person on the team and learned something from each of them this season. I think Rosie is a great role model because she is one of the most composed players I know and is a natural leader on and off the field. It’s easy for me to look up to her because she is easily one of the best players on our team and we play the same position. Playing center midfield with her was a great learning experience for me because she is very effective with her positioning on the field and when she has the ball at her feet. She gives 100% every time she steps on the field, which is something everyone can admire. She’s also one of the sweetest people you’ll ever meet. |
| This year you had some great “tackles” and developed a bit of a reputation on the team as a bull in a china closet. Did the physical nature of the college game bring out that side in you? |
| KS: Thanks for the new nickname Sue. I’m a physical player because it would be impossible to not be physical and expect to be a threat in the midfield, especially in a conference as competitive as the UAA. My style of play is all about going in hard to win the ball either in the air or in the midfield. Since I’m not extremely technical I try to make up for that by being scrappy. I think part of my problem is I sometimes get too into the game when I’m on the field... when I get excited I tend to run all over the place and go in extra hard for fifty fifties. Composure is definitely something I need to work on for next year. So I guess my answer is yes, college definitely made me more physical but it helps that we play against people who are wicked strong in the middle. |
| With twelve states represented on the roster, what teammate holds the best “vacation spot” on the team? |
| KS: Obviously Kyla over there in Hawaii. She has an avocado tree in her backyard. Who wouldn’t want to go visit her? |
