Oct. 28, 2004
Q. Two years ago you scored a goal against Illinois in your first game as a Missouri Tiger. How exciting was that experience?
A. Scoring my first goal against Illinois was a great experience. To tell you the truth, I do not really remember much about it, but I do remember the huge smile on my face. I never thought that I would score such a big goal that quickly. At the time I had a freshman mentality; I was simply trying to measure up to the upperclassmen. After I scored that goal I think I came out of my shell and began to play my best soccer.
Q. You played on the forward line as a freshman, but as a sophomore you made the switch to midfielder. How much different is the mindset of a midfielder from that of a forward, and how difficult was it to change positions?
A. To be honest with you I had been a forward all my life, so when I switched to midfielder it was a difficult transition. It took some work to get used to the position. Luckily for me I am a very versatile player, and it actually wasn't that bad of a switch. I ended up loving midfielder and became very comfortable in that position.
Q. Throughout your career at Mizzou you have had an excellent shot-on-goal percentage. (.548 as a freshman, .500 as a sophomore) What are the secrets behind your accuracy?
A. I have an automatic offensive mentality, and I pick my spots well. I know when it's time to shoot and when it's time to distribute the ball, and that's the reason I have such a good percentage.
Q. Coach Blitz describes your attitude and playing style as "selfless." Describe the importance of teamwork to your style of play.
A. I have always been a very unselfish player. I love to distribute the ball and help others get opportunities to score. I also love to get my own opportunities to score, but being a team player is very important to me. I guess you could say that one of my strengths is distributing the ball to the entire team.
Q. Describe the closeness of the Mizzou soccer team in general.
A. We are like a family of 24 sisters. We spend every waking minute with each other, and when we do have opportunities to hang out with other people we usually spend the time with our teammates instead. I know that if I need anything from one of my teammates, they will have my back and I will always have theirs in return. They are all my best friends.
Q. Describe what it's like to be a part of the Border Showdown with Kansas. Is there special meaning attached to the game whenever you play the Jayhawks?
A. I try to treat it like any other game when we play the Jayhawks, to come into the game with the mentality that we are going to outplay the other team. Don't get me wrong, our team hates the Jayhawks. It makes us work that much harder when we play Kansas, because we want to beat them and take away the opportunity to sing their chant on our turf!
Q. Are there any other games on the schedule that you look forward to?
A. I look forward to all of our games. I love the feeling of stepping out onto the field for a seven o'clock game under the lights. A rush of adrenaline runs through your body. I thrive on competition, so every game is a thrill for me!
Q. Your sister Shanna was a goalkeeper for Northern Colorado. How important is the sport of soccer in your family?
A. Soccer could be my family's other last name. My older sister, my younger sister, and I all started playing at the age of 5, and my little sister and I are still playing. My dad coached all three of us when we began to play the sport, and my mom is our biggest fan. We are honestly known as the soccer family in our community, probably because our whole lives have been centered around the sport.
Q. How much did Shanna influence the way you play the game?
A. My sister has helped me become the finisher that I am today. Having a goalkeeper in the family helped me to learn all their tricks, and I owe a lot of my talent to her. Watching her play has always been an inspiration to me, and has helped me grow as a player. She has been my idol when it came to soccer, but she doesn't know that.