Richardson the Focus of Big 12 Feature
11/17/2011 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Nov. 17, 2011
Two days earlier, the MU Women's Soccer team had received bad news. Their season was over; they would not be going to the NCAA Tournament. Sophomore midfielder Dominique Richardson and her teammates had the day, and for that matter, the entire week to relax and get away from the sport. Richardson did not take the opportunity, electing to go through a series of stretches and prep work in the Missouri Athletic Training Complex. Resting on her laurels has never been Richardson's preferred style.
The second Dominique Richardson walked onto the University of Missouri campus she was competing for a spot in the starting lineup on a team that had won back-to-back Big 12 Championships. The precocious Fullerton, Calif. native has always been the type to challenge herself. An opportunity in Division I athletics proved to be no exception.
"I just wanted it really bad," Richardson said. "As a freshman, you can't be afraid of taking an older person's spot. If you want it, you have to go for it." Richardson got her spot, starting all 19 games as freshman. More than just keeping the field warm, Richardson buried three goals, including a game-tying free kick from 40 yards out against Depaul, and chipped in three assists. Her impressive debut season earned her All-Big 12 Newcomer honors and recognition as one of the Top 100 College Freshman in the nation.
A quick review of Richardson's pre-collegiate resume lends credibility to her immediate success at MU. Only 19 years old, Richardson has amassed quite a trophy case. She made a noteworthy double-dip in high school, winning both the Fullerton High School Inspirational Athlete of the Year and being named Orange County Athlete of the Year during her senior year. Richardson believes she won these awards for her well-rounded approach.
"Soccer and basketball were during the same season, and all four years of high school, I did both at the same time, while maintaining a high GPA," said Richardson. "I was also in our student body my senior year."
Richardson did not limit herself to high school competition. She helped get her club team, Legends FC, off the ground and was named to the Under-20 U.S. Women's National Team. Among all her early accolades, Richardson counts competing for the national team against some of the top players in the world as her greatest achievement. She even met a soon-to-be teammate in competition.
"That's where I met Kaysie [Clark] the first time," Richardson said. "I think we are really good friends now. It's just cool to meet someone that you don't know that well that is coming to the same school as you."
The 2011 season featured Richardson taking the next step. Although she starts as a defensive midfielder, Richardson's six goals led the team. She was selected as one of CollegeSoccer360's Prime Performers of the Week and to Soccer America's National Women's Team of the Week the first week of September. She also was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team at season's end.
(For the full article go to http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=106124&SPID=13136&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=205333217&DB_OEM_ID=10410)
