Sept. 21, 2004
Q: What factors led you to attend Loyola-Chicago after graduating from Cor Jesu High School in St. Louis?
A: I visited four schools before I chose Loyola; Butler, Cincinnati, Southeast Missouri State, and Purdue. It came down to Butler and Loyola, and I had to go with Loyola because of its location. I love the city of Chicago, and that selling point clinched the decision for me. The campus was beautiful. The girls on the team were great, and right off the bat we clicked as a team. I am still close to some of the girls today.
Q: What did you see in Mizzou that made you want to transfer after just one year of playing in Chicago?
A: I have friends that attend Mizzou, and when I visited them I fell in love with the school. I loved how big it was, and I loved the fact that there was always something to do, on or off-campus. I know there is no Michigan Ave, (a Chicago street with bustling city life), but Mizzou has more of a "college" atmosphere. I just thought that I would feel more comfortable in this setting than I did in the city.
Q: Describe your reaction when you saw Loyola-Chicago, your former team, on the schedule.
A: I was scared, nervous, and excited all at the same time when I found out that we would be playing Loyola. It's a weird feeling because I have been looking forward to this weekend for a while, and now that it's finally here, I don't know if I should feel excited, anxious, or afraid of losing to my former team. On the other hand, I have all the confidence in the world that both teams will perform well on Sunday.
Q: Looking at 2003's box scores, it appears that you saw a lot of action at Loyola, how will you feel if you receive less playing time this year as a part of the Mizzou soccer team?
A: I just want to do what is best for our team, regardless of playing time.
Q: Last year you played in the Horizon League, and although you haven't played a Big 12 game yet, you have seen larger schools and better soccer programs this year, including #9 Florida. Explain the difference in level of play between the competition you have seen while playing at Mizzou as opposed to Loyola.
A: College soccer is college soccer. I have been hit and tackled the same way in every game I've played, whether I was playing for Loyola or Mizzou. Both conferences have quality players and quality teams. Although I do find it very exciting to be able to play ranked teams like Florida and Stanford, in both conferences teams have to play to the best of their abilities to win games. Each conference has great rivalries, and I am very excited to become a part of the rivalries in the Big 12.
Q: What advantages did you gain by playing on a club team that have helped you in your college career?
A: I am grateful that I was able to play with and against some of the best players in the nation, some of whom are now members of the National Team. These players helped me to become a better player, both as an individual and a teammate. It's also fun to see your teammate playing on TV and be able to say, "I played with her!" My club coaches helped me develop into a skilled player. They prepared me as a player to adapt to many situations that may occur throughout a game, and without them I would not be in the place I am today.
Q: What are your best skills as a soccer player? How can you help the Tigers?
A: I am a great team player, and I love working with everyone to reach the common goal of trying to make our team better. I hope that I can help the team with my ball skills and my semi-decent shot. On the other hand, I love being able to learn from my coaches and my teammates every day, whether it's practice or a game.
Q: After high school in St. Louis, you attended college in Chicago, and now you attend Mizzou. Explain the difficulty of adjusting to two different universities in two years.
A: The hardest adjustment I had to make was the transition from living at home to living in Chicago. It took a couple of months to get used to being away from home and my close friends, but being busy with soccer helped me adjust. Adjusting to Mizzou was much easier. I knew what to expect from college. I also had friends on the team that I had known for a while, and they welcomed me with open arms. Not only that, I had friends from high school here as well, and they helped me learn the ropes at Mizzou. It didn't hurt that I was only two hours away from home rather than five.
Q: What did you enjoy about living and playing in Chicago last school year?
A: I loved being so close to downtown Chicago. It was a lot of fun to go downtown and go shopping, go to concerts, or see the museums. There were so many things to do, and I loved hanging out with my friends. I loved playing at Loyola because we all knew almost everyone on campus. It was cool to see how much support the team got when we won the conference championship. It was cool being on a team that made history, and I will always remember that experience.