When did you start playing soccer?
When I was born pretty much. My older brother and older sister played so I was around it from the minute I was born. I started playing Snoopy Soccer when I was 3.
What is your favorite thing about playing soccer?
The opportunities it has given me to travel all over the country and the world. Soccer has given me everything I have in my life. Soccer gave me the opportunity to go to College and Graduate School, to build friendships that will last a lifetime, and to explore the world. There is only one thing in my life, my family, which is something that soccer has not given me and even then almost all of my memories with my family include soccer. Soccer has given me my life.
What was your most memorable game experience?
Youth: Playing in my first state cup when I was a U12 with the Washingtonville Lady Storm and we were in the Finals against NY Hota. It was a really close game and going back and forth. One of my teammates played a through ball and I was in a foot race to catch up with the defender. I caught up to her and as the goalie was coming out a slide and toe poked it through her legs and scored the game-winning goal. The three of us fell on top of one another and I remember my teammate Tyler sprinting over to me and throwing the other two girls off of me and picking me up and we did our goal celebration that we had made up just for the state cup.
College: My senior year in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Boston College was hosting and we were playing Boston University. There was a history between our teams in the past and it turned into a rival team, at least for me it did. We went into over time 0-0 and then finished the first over time 0-0. Going into the second over time I remember saying, “We are fitter, stronger, and want this more than they do!” With 1:30 seconds left in the game I scored to win. I can look back and say I left every ounce of energy and all of my heart on that field for 108:30 minutes.
W-League: Quickstrike Lady Blues were playing home against Washington Freedom. We got scored on first and scored within 5 min to tie it 1-1. It was a very intense game and we were playing a team that won the division last year. There was under 5 minutes left in the first half and we had a throw in about 30 yards out from goal. I was playing center back and remember running up screaming to throw the ball in and switch it. I kept yelling and we were trying to switch it off the left side and the defender went to clear it and it popped out and I saw it and hit a volley to the upper 90. All I can remember was the crowd (around 1500) and the bench screaming. We went into half time up 2-1 and ended up winning 4-2. It was one of the best, if not the best goal, I have scored in my soccer career.
International: Walking out to play in the Finals of the Pan American Olympics Games in 2007. We (U20 NTL Team) were playing Brazil (Full NTL Team) in Brazil. The crowd was over 40,000 and you could not here the person next to you talking. It was everything I had ever imagined and more. I walked on the field and stood in awe looking at the stadium filled to the top. It was so loud I couldn’t even hear the other center back trying to talk to me.
What is something you always have in your soccer bag?
My IPod and a permanent marker.
What was your most interesting and fun soccer trip and why?
I don’ think there was a trip last season that WASN’T interesting. Washington always seemed to be the most eventful. We’ve gone to some fun places, met some characters and the hallway races were to die for.
What's your perfect day off?
Relaxing and reading a book!
Name a sports team other than Sky Blue FC that you can’t live without?
The New York Yankee’s
If you could only eat one food item/meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Definitely cereal! I could live off of cereal if I had to.
What's on your workout/pre-game iPod playlist?
I always listen to these songs and then randomly some others: Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson, Empire State of Mind by Jay Z, Down with the Sickness by Disturbed, Out Here Grindin’ by DJ Khaled.
Aside from soccer, I'm really good at…
Working with kids.
Not many people know that I can…
Draw and paint.
If my parents were describing me, they’d say that I…
Am oblivious to the world around me, I beat my own drum, am passionate.
I want my experience in WPS to be…
Unforgettable
QUICK HITS – List your three favorites:
TV Shows:
1. One Tree Hill
2. American Idol
3. ESPN Sports Center
Restaurants:
1. Mamas Fish House
2. Spago
Professional Athletes:
1. Mia Hamm
2. Peyton Manning
3. Derek Jeter
What are the three things you can never be without while traveling?
My iPod, my cell phone.
If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you want to go and why?
Greece/Italy because Jesse (my boyfriend) has a family house that is feet from the Mediterranean Sea and we could take a ferry to Italy. I am of Italian descent and have always wanted to visit. My Mom went when for her 21st birthday for 6 weeks and loved it!
Did you have a childhood pet? What was its name?
I grew up with my dog McGuyver. He was the coolest dog ever; he was a husky golden retriever half wolf!
What was your favorite TV show, movie, and music group?
7th Heaven, Toy Story, NSync.
What was the first concert you ever attended?
Usher. My best friend, Nicole, got us tickets for my birthday.
What was your favorite Halloween costume that you wore?
A Bunny Rabbit
What was your dream profession as a child?
To be a teacher.
What was your first job?
o Working with my Mom in her office. I had to put charts away and do computer work. Basically everything no one else wanted to do.
What celebrities have your friends told you that you look most like?
Mia Hamm
If you had a dinner party, who are the four people you would invite (can be living or dead) and why?
Derek Jeter, Mia Hamm, Jay-Z, Peyton Manning. They all have unique qualities that I can learn from (leadership, experience, passion, and knowledge).
Surely it took a lot of hard work to get to this level, what motivated you to keep working hard?
Ever since I was a little girl I have dreamed of being a professional soccer player. When I was growing up I looked up to Mia Hamm, Michelle Akers and the players that brought women’s soccer into the spotlight.
When it got hard, or you didn’t make the cut what did you do? What advice could you give kids about working hard and overcoming moments like this?
I remembered all the great memories I have from playing and the times that made me happy. I feel in love with soccer when a was young and I always remember that little girl when times are not going the way I hoped.
When going through school and playing soccer at the same time, how did you fit all the pieces together (soccer, school, social life)
There is a balance you have to find between them all. To me soccer and academics were more important than having a big social life. I had to find out what my priorities were and balance them. For every person the balance is different, it just takes time to figure out the balance.
What advice would you give to a young girl who dreams of playing in WPS one day?
If you have a dream follow it. If you give everything you have into that dream you will always look back, no matter if you make it or not, knowing you gave it everything you had.