Category: Interviews

11 Questions with Pick #12: An Interview with Morgan Proffitt

Posted on by RJ Allen

In the windup towards preseason, Backline Soccer had the opportunity to ask a few questions of Morgan Proffitt, drafted by the Chicago Red Stars in the second round of the 2017 NWSL College Draft. Proffitt was drafted out of Marquette University, where she was awarded Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year for 2016 and named to the 2016 MAC Hermann watch list, to name just a few of her accomplishments while playing for the Golden Eagles.

Most recently, Proffitt was called into the U-23 WNT January camp.

We’re eager to see what the 2017 NWSL season has in store for Proffitt, and we can tell, she is too.

Backline Soccer [BS]: You’re only the second player from Marquette to be selected in the NSWL draft (Maegyn Kelley was drafted in 2014 by FCKC at #35 but did not make the roster). Obviously your name had been in the mix, but did you expect to be drafted so early—second pick in the second round? How did it feel? What was the first thought that went through your head when you heard your name called?

Morgan Proffitt [MP]: A few weeks prior to the draft I would not have expected to get picked in the second round. There are so many talented players in this class so I was just hoping to hear my name. I heard from coaches a few days before the draft so I was a little more confident that my name would get called, but anything can happen in the draft so had to prepared for anything. It felt so good to hear my name get called. It was almost like receiving an award for working so hard all these years. When I heard my name I was excited and relieved, but then focused on not tripping on the way to the podium.

BS: What sort of challenges do you see there being, moving from the world of NCAA soccer to professional? Or do you think your experience with the USWNT U teams over the past few years has helped to prepare you for the difference?

MP: I think one of the biggest challenges will be speed of play. The ball moves much faster and decisions are made much quicker in the NWSL. I think being a part of the U23 WNT will definitely help with that transition, but I know there will still be an adjustment.

BS: The NWSL just announced a three-year deal with A+E Networks that includes broadcasting a game a week on the Lifetime channel. What does it mean to know that the league is making the transition to television?

MP: It means the world. I am so happy to be a part of a league that is continually growing. That contract is a huge step for women’s soccer in the US. I think it is also well deserved since we have one of the best, if not the best, Women’s National team in the world. So the fact that fans can now easily watch their favorite players is so amazing. I’m excited for the opportunities it will bring!

BS: You were with the Red Stars Reserves when they won the 2015 WPSL title, what was that experience like?

MP: That experience was incredible. I went into the Reserves team really excited because I knew there would be lots of really good players on the roster. Practices were always competitive and challenging, making the drive from Milwaukee to Chicago worth it. Winning the title made all the hard work and travel worth it. We also won the final two games with 14 players in 100-degree weather. So it was really cool to overcome the odds and come together to get what we worked so hard for.

BS: Your hometown is Columbus, Indiana, just about four hours from Chicago, and you spent your college years in Milwaukee. Does it feel like the Red Stars are almost your home team, in that they’re the closest to home for you?

MP: Oh, yes, I often find myself rooting for many different Chicago teams because it’s so close to Milwaukee, I have so many friends from there, and it’s a great city. My parents are thrilled to be able to see a lot of our games this coming year. Plus, playing in Chicago for the Reserves makes it feel like home.

BS: You’re listed as a D/M and you were awarded the Big East’s Defensive Player of the Year for 2016. Is there a position you prefer?

MP: I like to cover lots of ground and win balls defensively so defensive midfield, or the “6”, is my favorite position since it allows me to do both. I am definitely willing to play anywhere, but I am most comfortable in the midfield.

BS: Your draft class is certainly the first for whom the NWSL has existed since your high school playing career. Did this have any influence on your decision to play college soccer? I.e., that there was a pro league you could play in after college? And has the NWSL’s success (being the first league to hit the four-year and beyond mark) help you decide that playing pro was an option for your future?

MP: Honestly, going into college I did not think beyond that. I felt like the NWSL was almost unreachable as a freshman. I was so focused on making an impact for Marquette that a professional career never really crossed my mind. However, as the years passed in school and the league grew, I definitely found it as an awesome opportunity if I was given the chance in the draft. I am really excited to see what other advances the league makes in the coming years.

BS: The Red Stars have one of the strongest defenses in the league. Assuming that is where you end up on the pitch, what do you think you can bring you the Red Stars’ backline?

MP: I hope to help make the backline’s jobs easier by blocking penetrating balls, winning 50/50 battles, and tracking midfielders and forwards runs. I like when a backline communicates where they want me or where they need me, so knowing how organized the Red Stars are, I am really excited to get to work with all that talent and those leaders.

BS: Do you have any pre-game rituals?

MP: Well at Marquette we pride ourselves on being ‘blue-collar,’ or hardworking and determined. So before every game we would tie a piece of blue pre-wrap around our wrists as a reminder to work hard for our team. I don’t know if I will continue with that since I do not wear pre-wrap, but I love to jam out to music before games. It could be rap, rock, or country as long as it’s loud and I am not the only one dancing and singing.

BS: Marquette played Wisconsin-Madison in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Championship. What’s it like playing against Rose Lavelle, also drafted this year?

MP: Playing Madison is always a battle. Rose actually ended up scoring the winning goal in that game (1-0). She is such a skilled player–quick on and off the ball. She also has very good field awareness so when it comes to speed of play, she is very good. I am excited to continue to play against her because she challenges me defensively.

BS: As a Milwaukee-native myself, I have to ask, what are you going to miss most about Marquette and the Milwaukee area?

MP: Cheese curds. Just kidding. That is such a tough question because there are so many things I love about Marquette and Milwaukee. I think I am going to miss the overall environment at Marquette. My team, coaches, friends, professors, advisers, and trainers are all so supportive. They really want the best for each student-athlete both academically and athletically. I have heard Chicago has a good family environment too so I am hoping that continues! When it comes to the Milwaukee-area, I am going to miss being so close to the Lake. I spent the last two summers in Milwaukee and having the combination of city and a beach/ park by the lake was perfect.

Grassroots Support: Interview with a UWSL Support Group

Posted on by RJ Allen

The United Women’s Soccer League is one of the lower-tier pro-amateur soccer leagues for women in the United States. Founded in December 2015 with eleven teams, the league has added five new teams playing in its three conferences for the upcoming 2017 season.

Backline Soccer takes a moment to interview Southeast Syndicate, the supporters’ group for the Detroit Sun FC, one of the UWSL’s new expansion teams. The SE Syndicate is currently the only supporters group within the league.

 
Backline Soccer: Detroit Sun FC belongs to the United Women’s Soccer League, a second-tier women’s soccer league–what are some challenges of supporting a lower-tier team?
 

SE Syndicate: The biggest challenge of supporting a lower-tier team is spreading the word about your club and supporter group. Once we are able to get people to the matches, we can support just as passionately as any top-tier team. Without a big platform it’s tough to reach people that would be interested in joining our group. We advise our members to share about the SG and club via word of mouth and social media.

BS: What has the relationship like between the team and players and the supporter group? What sort of efforts or outreach do you have planned for the team?
 

SES: We have talked to the owners of the team and are excited to help them support local women’s soccer and our club. As the club was only created a few months ago we haven’t had many opportunities to see the players in action. We have a lot of things planned for the team. This off-season we will be working on many projects to support the team. We will be painting banners, making chants, (possibly) providing some merchandise , and other activities in order to let the players know that we love and support them every match. Also, our club is looking to find ways to positively impact our community and we are excited to be a part of that!

BS: Have you taken cues from other supporter groups or has the culture grown on its own?
 

SES: The lower-tier supporter culture in Michigan has exploded over the past few years and we have definitely been inspired by the boom. That being said, we are excited to do things our own way and make our own little dent in American soccer culture.

BS: Do other teams in the UWSL have supporter groups? Are other groups forming?
 

SES: Grand Rapids FC has had a men’s team in the Premier League of America and National Premier Soccer League for a few years now. They have recently announced the creation of a women’s side to play against our beloved Sun FC in the UWSL this summer. They have a great supporters group called the Grand Army. We are excited to become enemies for 90+ minutes and yet also form friendships. They are the only group that we know of in the UWSL.

BS: Do you have a relationship or partnership with supporter group for nearby men’s teams? Or is there any mutual interaction between supporters for local men’s and women’s soccer? What about NWSL supporter groups?
 

SES: We do not have any relationship with supporter groups for men’s teams. We are 100% focused on supporting Detroit Sun FC this summer. It doesn’t matter who you support for men’s ball if you are singing with us on Sun’s Match day! We have had a few members of NWSL Supporter groups wish us luck, but without a NWSL team closer than Chicago, the point becomes mute.

BS: Do you see (or hope to see) a path toward entry into the NWSL, the US’s first-tier women’s soccer league? And what role do you think a supporter group can play in bringing about that transition?
 
SES: Without a merit-based path to the first-tier, entrance into the NWSL is dictated by the ambition of the owners of Detroit Sun FC. Yes, we would love to one day see Detroit Sun FC in the NWSL. But for now we are focused on pushing the club toward a UWSL championship. I feel like our supporters group can play a role in bringing the NWSL’s eye to Detroit Sun FC. The passion and numbers that we bring to every match will hopefully spark interest in the club. As we said, our main goal and focus is supporting our club in the second-tier. We want to have a positive impact on the inaugural DSFC season.

Janine van Wyk Helping to Build a Bright Future for South African Soccer

Posted on by RJ Allen

Earlier this year in one of the final tune-up matches before traveling to Rio, the USWNT played the South African Women’s National Team for the first time and nearly everyone predicted the game would be a likely bloodbath favoring the American side. But on game day we were treated to a surprisingly tight game, with Crystal Dunn scoring the only goal in the 35th minute. And while Hope Solo did notch her 100th international career shutout–the most ever in the women’s game–as a whole, the match wasn’t quite the cakewalk that one might expect when a team ranked at #1 takes on #52.

One of the reasons South Africa was able to hold the US to a 1-0 game is centerback and captain Janine van Wyk. Van Wyk is the most capped South African player, male or female, with 130 senior international appearances since 2005. And her influence in the development of soccer in South Africa is felt both on and off the pitch, perhaps nowhere more evident than her work with growing nation’s youth game.

In 2012 van Wyk founded the JVW Girls Football Development Program, and recently Backline Soccer spoke with Lauren Duncan, the program’s project manager, about what has been going on in South African soccer and the JVW program that van Dyk started. 

Backline Soccer (BS): Why was the JVW Girls Football Development Program (JVW GFD) started?

Lauren Duncan (LD): The Program was started in 2012, to improve, develop and expose women’s soccer. Women’s soccer is slowly on the rise in South Africa, but more needed to be done at grassroots and school levels to give girls an equal playing chance. The JVW GFD Program started with a School League with 12 teams and has now grown to 109 teams within 5 years. The women’s club JVW FC was started a year after the School League as we felt there needed to be a stable environment for identified and talented players to play in, and potentially be able to take the next step in the sport.

BS: What are the main goals of the program?

(LD): To develop young, aspiring and talented players. To create a competitive and structured playing environment at schools level and bridge the gap between school and club players. To promote women’s soccer and raise the standard of the women’s game in South Africa. To produce top players and introduce their talent to the professional soccer world.

(BS): Janine van Wyk is the namesake and founder of the program. Does having the captain of the full NT help in drawing players to the program?

(LD): Yes, of course it does. We have a lot of young girls who look up to and want to be like Janine, and there are many girls who want to be part of the program to gain experience directly from Janine. Janine is very actively involved in the program, and gives a lot of guidance to the younger girls.

(BS): How has the landscape of soccer in South Africa changed since the program was founded?

(LD): Women’s soccer is on the rise throughout the world, and by having this program more girls are now able to play football, and aspire to be part of the program. Although the program is only running in one of the nine provinces in South Africa, more awareness has been created for the women’s game.

(BS): When bringing in new coaches what qualities do you look for to make sure they fit with the program’s ideals?

(LD): We have had coaches in the past whilst we were still testing the waters to see what worked and what didn’t work. We have now started looking at our own players in our Senior teams, to see who can add value to our Program/Club, and are looking to bring in more female coaches to grow the sport at different levels. We look for passionate female leaders in the women’s game who share the same vision for the sport as we do.

(BS): In 5 years where do they see the program?

(LD): In 5 years, we are hoping that there is a professional League for women in South Africa in which our First Team is actively participating in. However, we aspire to be one of the top women’s soccer programs in South Africa, producing elite athletes to professional clubs abroad. We would also like to branch out into other provinces in South Africa, to give other girls the same opportunities as the ones currently participating in the Gauteng Province. We also would like to be a feeder for Scouts/Varsities abroad, and give girls in South Africa opportunity to make a career out of the sport.

(BS): Anything else you think people should know about the program and South African soccer?

(LD): The Club caters to girls from as young as 9 years old, which gives them the option to participate in an all-girls club, and progress throughout the years to eventually make the first team. Our first team have currently been crowned Sasol League Gauteng Champions and are heading to National Playoffs in early December. The Sasol League is the highest league for women in the country, but it is still not considered a Professional League. We have six Senior Women’s National Team Players in our first squad, which adds a huge amount of value to the club.

South African women’s soccer is definitely on the rise with the pool of female players increasing on a daily rate, however as a country we still struggle with proper women’s soccer grassroots/development programs as the sport is still not considered as one of the fastest growing sports in the world. We feel the gap is not having a Professional League for Women, and almost all female soccer players have full day jobs, in order to play soccer.

 

Visibility Matters: An Interview with Crystal Dunn

Posted on by RJ Allen

The Washington Spirit have had quite the year, dominating the 2016 league standings for most of the season. But in recent weeks, the team’s momentum appears to have slowed as the regular season winds down. This week Washington was looking for a victory against Chicago in order to lock up the league shield, which would have given them a strong finish to carry into their home-field semifinal coming up this Friday night.

But the Chicago Red Stars played spoiler on Saturday, winning the game and solidifying their place as the number three seed. Awarded to the team with best season record, the league shield was once firmly in the Spirit’s grasp, but the winner will now come down to whether or not the Portland Thorns draw or win over Sky Blue tonight.  Yet, despite the 3-1 result against Chicago, Crystal Dunn, one of Washington Spirit’s talented forwards, had a strong game, netting the team’s only goal, and helping to develop much of Washington’s offensive presses.

After the loss, Dunn took time to speak with Backline Soccer about the result, sharing thoughts on her change in play this year, as well as the upcoming playoffs and the unpredictability of the 2016 NWSL season. We also discussed recent headlines regarding Megan Rapinoe’s protest that started in Chicago a few weeks ago, and the importance of respecting people’s opinions while also respecting the right to protest. And we took up the issue of the particular pressures that athletes of color may carry in the sports they play.

Backline Soccer (BS): Tonight’s game had playoff implications for both teams. Can you share your thoughts on the game?

Crystal Dunn (CD): Yeah, it was a bit of a bummer. Obviously we stepped into this game wanting to win the shield. We wanted to come out and do really well so we could have that good momentum heading into the semis;  it didn’t go our way. I think we had our chances. We didn’t get into our rhythm until after being down 2-0, and unfortunately it’s tough coming back in this league from being down 2-0. So for us, I feel like the game was lost in the first fifteen minutes. We worked hard to get back in the rhythm of things, we did a good job of that, but it just didn’t go our way.

BS: You’ve had an interesting role on the Spirit this year. There has been a lot mentioned about your lack of goals this season, but your assist game is very strong. Do you feel any different having scored a couple goals now?

CD: You know I’ve played a different role this year. New coach. New system. I will say, it hasn’t been easy this year. Just because I’ve played in the nine [position], I’ve played the seven, I’ve played the eleven. It’s not like last year where I was just in one position and that was it. That was my position. That was my role. To just be in that one spot. Honestly, looking back, I’ve never had a season where I’ve had five assists and for me you have to take that for what it is. I don’t look at this year as a disappointment in any way. I look at it at as, “hey, I’ve never assisted so many goals in a season,” so it’s something to look forward to.

BS: As far as a season in general, the NWSL this year has been kind of unpredictable. Playoff opponents still up in the air, down to the wire, final week scenarios. Was prepping for tonight’s game perhaps a playoff preview?

CD: It’s been wild! I think for us we know that were hosting. And I think that is something to take the weight off of our shoulders. We know we have a good field, we know we play really well on our field and for our home fans. For us, tonight was obviously disappointing. But I think going into the semis I think we’re going to regroup and refocus.

BS:  It was a busy night in Chicago tonight. Many events, including tonight’s game. Chance the Rapper is on a huge tour right now. He planned a whole special event just for his hometown Chicago. In the event that this game wasn’t scheduled for Saturday, but instead on Sunday, would you have tried to find tickets to the concert?

CD: One hundred percent. YES! Absolutely.

BS: Quick follow up, who is the one teammate who would’ve been trying to scrounge up tickets with you?

CD: Teammate! It would definitely be Estelle Johnson. She’s freakin’ silly, and she’s all about getting into shenanigans with me. So for sure her. She’s my ride or die on the team.

BS: Chicago made some headlines the other week as well. Your national team teammate Megan Rapinoe took a knee during the anthem here in the game against the Red Stars. She extended that into the national team games. There has been a ton of discussion regarding this. Sometimes just discussing the form of protest, not the issues. Carli Lloyd has mentioned that there have been discussions with teammates about it. Did she ever talk to you about it? Or ask for advice?

CD: You know Pinoe [Megan Rapinoe] is a good friend of mine. We’ve had multiple conversations about it. I did share my views with her on the situation [form of protest]. I told her “look, as a black woman who is playing a sport that is majority white, I love that fact she’s trying to stand up for people’s rights. For something that’s so close to my heart.”  I just further expressed to her that, “No, I can’t be with you in NOT standing for the national anthem.”  Because for me it’s about the fact that people have given their lives for this country. Yes, a country that is NOT perfect. One that has LOTS of flaws. Trust me. I know. I have friends who have been victimized for just for being the way they are and looking the way the look. But to me, the flag and the national anthem doesn’t mean that this country is perfect, for me it means we want to hope for what this country is going to be, what this country could and should be. When I put my hand over my heart, it’s about closing my eyes and thinking about the people who’ve given their lives for me to be living in this world. Yes, it is not perfect and there are rights and methods to express the way you feel about those things. Ultimately, she [Rapinoe] said she understood exactly where I was coming from, and she told me she respected my opinion and she was going to continue doing what she’s been doing. We also have to respect that, I respect her for that and I would never, ever in my life tell her or anyone that you should not be doing this. We live in a country where we have freedom of expression, and I can’t take that away from her.

BS: Exactly, it’s literally a right. I myself have been pretty vocal on some of these issues at Backline Soccer. Whether it’s in my writing, or webcasts. Because I feel similarly–it’s her right to protest–but I also feel it’s necessary to have those types of conversations.

CD: Yes. One hundred percent. Absolutely.

BS: I’ve also mentioned, as you have here, the game is very Anglo. And there is a need to support women of color in this sport. Because at times there can be certain level of weight, or pressure on athletes of color in the game. Do you ever feel that kind of weight?

CD: For those who don’t know, I’ve grown up in a predominately white neighborhood. I’ve been around white people all my life. For me, it never bothered. It was what I was used to ever since I was 2 years old. It was like this is all I know. This is what I know. It really wasn’t until I got older, where I really started to take notice of my environments. I noticed “WOW. I am really, REALLY the only black girl on all of my teams, I’m the only black girl in all of my classes.” Even with me being on the national team, it’s funny, because in my conversations with Pinoe, we also talked about that, how there has maybe been about fourteen black women on the national team. In its history. Those things matter. Especially for me. I know we have a lot of mixed people on the national team. I think something people don’t understand is – that the way you look? It matters. For me? I’m a chocolate girl on the national team. You know, I’m not mixed, I’m not light skinned. I’m not any of that. So my experience on the team is completely different from someone who doesn’t look like me. I hold that very dear to my heart because I want people to know that when they see me on the national team, that they can look at me and still feel like they can make it to where you want to get in life. I don’t think that’s something everyone can understand. People don’t realize that. They might see a mixed girl and say “oh she’s mixed, she counts” and yes, absolutely the do. Mixed girls are technically black. But the reality is that if you don’t look like me? You will be treated differently.

BS: Experiences are different, even within certain racial groups.

CD:  And that’s the colorism that people don’t understand. That’s what ties into bigger things. Like the whole minorities and people of color being on the national stage. So yeah, I do sense a bit of pressure. But it’s not negative pressure. Every day I wake up and want to hold myself in the right way, and carry myself in the right way. To allow people to feel like “look, Crystal Dunn made it. I look like her. If she can make it.  Maybe I could make it too.”

Catching Up with Olympic Bronze Medalist, Stephanie Labbé

Posted on by RJ Allen

Going to training and being able to speak with the players afterward is something that I value and appreciate greatly. It’s not every day that you get to have a conversation with an Olympian, let alone a bronze medalist.

It may be her first year in the league, but Stephanie Labbé has made quite the splash here in DC. We at Backline Soccer do enjoy a good defense, and that starts with a great keeper.

I had a few questions for Labbé, and she was kind enough to answer them for me.

Backline Soccer (BS): With knowing that Kelsey Wys had dealt with the same situation last season, with Ashlyn Harris at the World Cup, and knowing the depth of this team, did it make it easier to go and concentrate on Canada before the break?

Stephanie Labbe (SL): For sure, I mean Kelsey is incredible, she’s always been ready. It’s always been a battle between us, nothing has ever been set in stone and we challenge each other all the time in training and I think that it’s a really good partnership for us. Whether it’s her or me in goal, I don’t think the team misses a beat. We both bring something different to the team, and it wasn’t even a thought in my mind.

BS: Canada was the only team that repeated as medalist in Rio. Does that give you a little bit of confidence going into the next cycle, knowing that it’s something that is not out of reach?

SL: Going in, there were doubts on us, and the team that won in London was a different team, and that was a team that got success through team connection. It wasn’t necessarily a team that out-performed other teams; they had the connection and that energy of never giving up, and they fought and battled through games and got results.

This time around going in, this was a much different team, we had so much more youth, and it was a different blend of youth and experience. We went out and out played top 5, top 6, teams on a consistent basis. For us to do that and do it back to back, it solidifies our spot in the world and shows we’re a top team and we’re a team to beat. I think it changes the mentality of Canadians and Canada soccer and proves that it wasn’t a fluke and we’ve earned this and we earned our spot on the top stage.

BS: How was your prep different from the World Cup, going into the Olympics as Canada’s number 1, especially after Erin McLeod went down very close to the Olympics?

SL: My individual prep wasn’t too much different. Going into the World Cup, it was a battle for who was going to play, going in, and I had that mentality the whole time. Going into this, yeah it was a bit different, but at the same time Sabrina and I still had to battle. Nothing was ever set in stone, once Erin was injured it was never my spot, it was something that Sabrina and I battled until the end with. I’m thankful for that because I think that that connection and that battle and competition that we had between each other just made us both so much stronger and pushed each other to new levels. I think that’s the reason why I was able to step out there with full confidence, knowing that I worked my butt off to earn that. And, at the same time, I had the confidence to go out and play well because she pushed me to be the best me.

BS: Who, after you, was the first person that you let hold your bronze medal?

SL: First person was my goalkeeper coach. Our staff don’t get medals, so we made sure that all of our staff got to feel the medal, because they’re just as much a part of it, and they earned it just as much as we did. So my goalkeeper coach got my medal. And when I got home, my mom, she had it.

BS: With clinching playoffs on Saturday, does it make it a little bit different, leading in and knowing you made the playoffs, so now you can work on the little things that maybe need to be tweaked, heading into the playoffs, over the next couple of games?

SL: For sure. [It] definitely takes a little bit of weight off your shoulders. That’s the first goal, to make playoffs. Now we have a new goal, and that is to make sure we stay in first and clinch that first spot. Of course, like I said, there is that weight off your shoulders of making the playoffs, so you know you’re in now, and now it’s about fine tuning the little things so we’re ready for the semifinal.

A Chat with Louisville City FC President: Amanda Duffy

Posted on by RJ Allen

I recently had the chance to talk with Amanda Duffy, a former professional player who is now the President of Louisville City FC. We spoke about how she became involved with the club, the success of the club in such a short amount of time, and her opinions on the possibility of an NWSL team for Louisville in the future.

Backline Soccer: First and foremost, congratulations on such a successful start for Louisville City.

Amanda Duffy: Thank you. Yeah, it’s been a great start so far. Have you been to a game yet?

BS: I have not been able to make it back for a game. Every time I go back to visit, it has been in the offseason, but I have been following you guys since your inception, and I know a few diehard fans who have told me the atmosphere is just insane.

AD: It is. It’s been pretty neat. I’m just thankful and appreciative that I’ve been a part of it from essentially day one, before we ever played our first game. To know how far the fan base has come from back in the fall/winter of 2014, when it was this idea that people couldn’t get their head around. Like, they got pro sports and pro soccer, but they didn’t necessarily understand what the USL was and they definitely didn’t understand playing soccer in a baseball stadium. They didn’t know how that was going to look or feel. And for most, at least from my standpoint, the supporter groups have created this environment that is, in my opinion if not the best, one of the best systems in our league. I think even if you pull NASL into the picture, I think we just present an environment that is pretty special. I think that as the locals come to Slugger Field – pretty much everyone has been to a baseball game there – they come with an expectation. At least in the first year, people had obviously heard that it was different than baseball, but it was an eye-opening experience to them. It was very engaging to see all of it sort of evolve over the last two years.

BS: Oh of course. So, first of all, how did you get involved with Louisville City?

AD: Well, I worked at USL prior to coming to Louisville. I had been there about 7 ½ years. When I first got to the USL I was in a position – well I stopped playing in 2006 – and in 2007 I got to the USL. I had done an internship [with the USL] to finish my master’s, so I had already made some connections. When I finished playing, I reached back out and said, “Okay I’m ready to start doing real work.” The USL was in the process of expanding its headquarters and operation and personnel, so I started my first year in a kind of “catch all” position. I was working with the pro league, the adult amateur league, helping a little bit with registration, helping a little bit with our referee education … So it was just a catch all. At the time, it wasn’t exactly what I wanted. I had gone back thinking and hoping that I wanted to be a part of the women’s game. But in hindsight now, I’m so appreciative of that because it educated me on all areas of the game. And as I continue to move through different areas of the USL, I’m just better educated by all of it. So, that position morphed into Director of Operations for USL Pro, which at the time was USL First Division and USL Second Division before the group split and NASL was formed. So, I was part of the operations with the pro league at the time, and when the leagues came together after the group split that did form NASL … We put USL I and USL II together to form USL Pro. It was at that time that I transitioned over to the women’s side with the W-League and I became Senior Director of the W-League. I spent the next three years there, overseeing the women’s strategic direction and growth on that side. So then at that point in 2014, Louisville City was announced in June. I knew I had a great relationship with Phil Rawlins and Orlando City and they had ownership in this franchise, since it was a transfer franchise from Orlando City. So with that connection and then a second connection with the first president, my predecessor John Bucholtz. He had worked for a couple of different USL Pro teams while I was at the league, so he was someone that I had worked with from a league-team type relationship and when he was named president here, that was just another sort of warm relationship that made me comfortable in entertaining the idea of considering an opportunity here when they reached out. So, I actually became as the vice president of operations in 2014 and then December of that year there was a change in the leadership. I was moved into the GM role and a year later named president of the club.

BS: Wow. That’s amazing.

AD: It is amazing. It’s one of those things that when you’re in it every day, you don’t really take that step back and look at it from the outside in and realize, you know not just me, but what everyone here has really accomplished in such a short period of time. And for me I came into this side thinking at that point that my professional experience had been all on the league side. I went from player to working in the league headquarters. I wanted to get more experience working in a team front office. Just to have a better understanding of everything. I certainly needed to and certainly wanted to and I also just like working for a team. I’m a competitor. I’m an athlete. And so in a league position you come from a very neutral position. Whereas with a team right now, you know, I’m fighting for this team and this organization. Well, not necessarily fighting, but speaking for and pushing this one organization. Which is different and it’s neat to be in that position.

BS: Right. On the topic of this specific team in Louisville … What do you think makes this team thrive in Louisville? And also, why do you think Louisville is such an amazing soccer city to facilitate this team?

AD: Well I think one would be, we’ve put a competitive team on the field from season one. Obviously, we are just in our second season right now. We just have been competitive from our very first game. We have a great head coach, we have a great coaching staff, great players. Our coaching staff have put in countless hours in terms of finding the right mix of talent and personality and character that all blend well and nicely to make sure that we have competitors on the field and people that are going to represent the team and get into the community in a way that is going to represent the club in the right way. I think putting a competitive team on the field right away was important and has helped us. Part of that, was that we sort of had this expectation because this franchise was a transfer from Orlando City. The success that club had in USL was obviously impressive. For that franchise to move here, we already had a high bar that was set and had an expectation of what we wanted to do and accomplish and we have done that so far in the first year and a half that we have been competing. I also think this is a unique market. It’s not one that I’m from but I’ve kind of learned this as I go … It’s a market that I feel has wanted something more. It’s very much a college town and you could even say that it’s a college state with the two major universities [University of Louisville and University of Kentucky]. But, I do feel like there is a want and a need for something more than just the university athletics. And with soccer, it introduces an avenue for people to support something that has nothing to do with college athletics. It’s in the neutral ground of pro sports. We are in the city. Our players are here under contract with us. They are based here. They live here nine months out of the year. We are engaged in this city and the community. We are bringing a different type of entertainment that the city has wanted at a professional level but hasn’t had in a long time.

BS: Yes. That is one of the reason why I think Louisville would make a great city for an NWSL team. I think the lack of pro teams in Louisville brings a much more concentrated and less saturated market in any team. And since the NWSL is looking to expand to 14 teams in the next 2-3 years, I feel like Louisville is the city that no one is really talking about, but was really a perfect market for a new team. Especially judging by the success of Louisville City.

AD: Yes.

BS: Now switching over to more of the women’s soccer side of things. Would you agree with me that Louisville would be a good place for an NWSL expansion team?

AD: I do think that this is a city where the support for the club would go beyond just our men’s professional team. I think our supporters are supporting the club and it just happens to be that right now we only have the men’s pro team, but we are building an environment and relationships with the community and with the city that the club is going to represent more. Our fans will support more than just the pro team when we are in the right position to expand our operation. Obviously right now, we are playing in a baseball stadium. The dates that we have, I mean, we just have such limited dates with the pro team, that it is not even realistic to start thinking about or even have a conversation about bringing any other team, whether its an NWSL team or a U-23 team. It’s not realistic because we don’t have a place to play. But, we’ve started that conversation with the stadium – a soccer specific stadium – recently. I’m not sure if you saw, but a study came out that supported the need and the readiness to build a soccer specific stadium here in Louisville. So it’s now sorta back on us to make that happen. And as that conversation progresses and we know the direction, obviously that there is a stadium, you know, filling that with the 20 games for the men’s pro team, then we are going to need to look to find other avenues to bring events to that stadium. Then, that would be a perfect opportunity to start having a conversation about an NWSL team or other teams that could utilize the stadium that that it’s not sitting empty.

BS: Right. Because right now you guys are, if I’m not mistaken, you guys are selling out almost every home game correct?

AD: Well, when the team was announced the ownership said that the official capacity is going to be 8,000. The official capacity of Slugger Field is 13,100 approximately. When we first started our ticket sales all of the outfield [was unavailable]. We weren’t selling tickets out there because we thought, you know, those are just terrible seats and you aren’t going to be able to see the game and you’re going to be too far away. But after our first game we realized that those were some of the best seats in the stadium. So for us right now, we have access to all 13,000 and we want to consider a sell-out that 13,000 mark. But, that is where the 8,000 number comes from which we have surpassed many times this year.

BS: That makes so much more sense, because I saw that your highest attendance this year was over 10,000 and I was just like, “That is so insane, how?”

AD: Yeah, that is where the 8,000 number comes from.

BS: Okay. Got it. So, just from your experience being the president of a team in Louisville, what are some hurdles you think there would be – obviously, in the future, if you had a new stadium – in sustaining a professional women’s team in the Louisville community?

AD: In my opinion – and this comes from running the W-League at the USL for the years that I did, and playing a year in Sweden – I got to see a different structure of women’s soccer. It was just one club. You had men’s team and the women’s team and the youth underneath it. It’s not the exact European model, but it was a full developmental system from youth all the way up to a pro team. And in seeing that I saw how it corresponded with fans of the club coming out to support all genders and levels. It was a different support system, versus here where you go to support a specific men’s team. And if it is just an independent women’s team, aren’t they getting the same level of support. In my opinion, having the infrastructure of an existing men’s professional club lends itself better to a successful women’s professional team. Mostly because you have more of an infrastructure to support women’s teams because you have more of the revenue sources coming in. Because when you’re talking about a women’s pro team on its own, it’s a lot harder for us because people are going to support the crest, they’re going to support Louisville City, and if a women’s pro team is a part of that then I think our fans can come in and support that. We have the front office infrastructure to really push our message and push the players and give them an identity for a women’s pro team in the same way that we can push a men’s pro team all representing “the crest” if you would. So I think for me, an important part of the growth of the women’s team is to really utilize the infrastructure that exists with men’s professional teams, just because you have a more stable environment to work out of.

BS: I totally agree with you. I mean, the top three teams in attendance in the NWSL are the three teams who are partnered with an MLS team.

AD: Correct.

BS: And even if you just think about the player and their willingness to go to to clubs that already have top facilities and staff and things that you might not be able to acquire having an independent team and so on and so forth. So, yes, I agree with you there.

AD: Great.

BS: So, my last question is, hypothetically, in the future, if you had to make a case on why an NWSL team should come to Louisville – if it was solely in your hands – what would a short pitch for the city be?

AD: Well it’s not so much a pitch, I think we have to look at our business and make sure the business that we are today is a stable one. Adding more programming and stuff to our business operation, we need to make sense to ultimately build stability and viability for the long term part of it.

BS: Of course.

AD: And I think the stadium is such a key piece to that entire conversation. Because we are going to look, assuming that we continue to move forward, and if in several years we are playing in our own stadium in Louisville, we are going to need to look to find other events and other opportunities to fill dates for the stadium. And I think from that business standpoint and if we are still in a healthy business state, growing and expanding goes underneath the men’s pro team and going into the women’s side. I think it will make sense for us to further engage in the community and as a professional soccer organization to have both genders represented and fill in underneath with a development structure to feed into those pro teams.

 

10 Questions with Libby Stout

Posted on by RJ Allen

Libby Stout came to the NWSL in 2016. While this might not be the season of her dreams, she has definitely made her case for being around in season five.

We asked her 10 questions about where she came from and where she is headed.

Backline Soccer (BS): What made you decide to go to Western Kentucky University?

Libby Stout (LS): I already had a decent knowledge of WKU because my older brother was attending the school. On a visit to see him, I asked to meet the soccer coach, Jason Neidell, and he showed me around the campus without knowing who I was. Not long after that he saw me play in a tournament and began recruiting me to Western. I wanted to play for a smaller, up-and-coming D1 program and that’s exactly what WKU was. It was honestly a perfect fit for me and I loved every minute of it.

BS: You set WKU career records for wins, shutouts, goals against average and save percentage, did you go into college aiming to break records or were you more of a game-to-game player who wasn’t looking at the records?

LS: I did not necessarily go into college aiming for records. However, my goal was to earn the starting spot from day one of my freshman year and that’s what I did. I think that mentality and the circumstances put me in a pretty good position to get some of those records. But I never could have achieved individual success without the collective effort of my team and the group of girls I played with throughout my four years. Those records are shared with each player I played next to.

BS: You’ve played professionally in Germany, France, England and now the US, how have the different leagues influenced your style as a goalkeeper?

LS: I have been unbelievably lucky to have experienced some amazing things through soccer. Each league taught me something new and different and helped develop me into a more well-rounded player and person. France stands out because it’s where my professional career started and I began to learn the business side of the sport. I also developed new techniques that I still use today that have made me quicker and more disciplined. Germany was a similar experience–learning different techniques–but England was my favorite. Liverpool was a great experience team-wise. We achieved real success there, winning the league and competing in the Champions League two years in a row. LFC was a really special club to be a member of and I’ll be a forever fan of the Reds.

BS: Why the NWSL and why Boston?

LS: After announcing his decision to leave Liverpool, Matt asked if I’d be interested in following him to Boston. After some deliberation, I decided I was ready to make my way back to the States. I’d always wanted the opportunity to play here, but the league was down the year I graduated from WKU, which lead me overseas. Needless to say I was really excited to come play for the Breakers in the NWSL, and despite a rough season results and injury-wise, I have genuinely enjoyed playing here and look forward to seasons to come.

BS: Coach Beard was your coach in England and in the US for Boston. How is playing under him in two different leagues?

LS: Matt is a fantastic coach and person in general. He’s the same guy! He has had to change a little bit of his personal soccer style to adapt to American soccer, but I think he has a great vision in mind. Every person I know who has played for Matt would do anything for the guy, and I really appreciate him putting his trust in me to bring me here to Boston.

BS: The season has been a bit of a roller-coaster for Boston this year. But there are some pretty big positives with different signings. Have the changes toward the later part of the season brought some excitement back to the locker room?

LS: Definitely. We’ve brought in some real talent through the last couple of months. I think the Olympic break came at a good time for us. We were able to regroup a little bit and focus on things we wanted to improve. We still have room for improvement, but with two games left I’m hoping we can stay consistent with the effort we put in during our last game against Western NY.

BS: The fan support in Boston this year has been really impressive. How is that support affecting the team as a whole and you personally?

LS: The fans in Boston are amazing! We’ve had great crowds every game and it’s just really great to see the support through the city. We always have loads of young girls and boys waiting for autographs and pictures at the end of games. I love the opportunity women’s soccer affords to young people because we are able to personally engage and for me that’s what it’s all about. I want to play professional soccer to help pave a way for girls growing up now and allow them to develop dreams to play in their future.

BS: How has your style of play had to change to adapt to the NWSL?

LS: My style hasn’t changed a whole lot really. One thing for sure though is that I tend to not have as many opportunities to play out from the back, which I would prefer. The league in general tends to press with a high line so I have to kick long goal kicks and punt more often than I would have done in Europe. But other than that it’s still all about keeping the ball out of the net!

BS: What do you look for in defenders? Do you like super-aggressive defenders or do you like when they play a little more conservatively?

LS: I really enjoy players who understand the game and can help communicate and organize, who have good positional awareness, and who aren’t afraid to get into a tackle. That’s pretty standard for any player on the field, but I like a defender to have a combination of both aggressive and conservative play. It’s important to use both of those characteristics when it’s appropriate. The trick is just discerning which one to exercise during a given situation, which comes through instinct and experience.

BS: Best attacking player you’ve played against in any league?

LS: I’ll say my most enjoyable opponent has been Lindsay Horan. I played against her in France and now in the NWSL. She’s a savvy and deceptive finisher and I enjoy the challenge that she imposes.

 

Five Questions with Ali Krieger

Posted on by RJ Allen

Editor’s note: This interview was conducted on 8/31. 

When living in the DC, Maryland, Virginia area – the DMV as we call it – it’s hard to talk about soccer without mentioning one particular name, Ali Krieger. It’s also hard to mention her name and not have whoever you are talking to smile, because that’s the kind of effect she has.

As hard-nosed and brash as she can be on the field, she is as kind and soft spoken off of it. She cares about her fans, her teammates and her sport. When you see pictures of her being the last player on the field signing autographs, that’s not for show, that’s just Ali being Ali.

For as popular and talented as she is, you could forgive her if she was cocky and a bit egotistical, but anyone who has had the pleasure of spending five minutes with her would tell you, that is the last thing that she is. I happen to be one of those people who have been lucky enough, on a few occasions, to speak with Ali.

Backline Soccer (BS): With the Spirit in 1st going into the playoffs this year, a little different than the last couple of seasons, how is that mindset and what do you think have been the changes that have put you in this position?

Ali Krieger (AK): I think we have a team this year that is all on the same page, we all respect each other and we really, really care about each other and get along so well. I think there’s constant support and everyone knows their role and gives it 100% everyday, not that there wasn’t in previous years. I think that there’s a certain communication and understanding that everyone is just here to work hard, to play well and be a good teammate and to want to win, most importantly. That’s the way that we’ve become so successful, I think that each game that we’re winning with that mindset, we’ve built confidence off of that. I think that that is the few keys and mainly the reason why we’ve been having success.

BS: As Captain and knowing how well the team was playing going into the break, did it make it easier to concentrate and be away, knowing the national team players didn’t have to be there, whereas other teams really needed their national team players?

AK: Absolutely, we have such depth within in this team and you couldn’t even tell we were away, at times I was thinking to myself, “do I even need to go back, I could just chill on the bench the whole time and cheer them on.” Not that I wanted to continue to do that.

In all seriousness, I love this team so much, we have such depth and great players with great attitudes who just want to work hard and get better and the willingness to learn and get better every single day has improved since day one. I think that just goes to show you that everybody who gets the opportunity to play and fill in those holes, we had 5 starters unavailable for the break, I think that players have been doing so well with just filling in and playing their role and possibly even doing it better than we were before. It makes it more difficult for us to join the team and come back in now, but that’s the way it should be, players should want to take that opportunity and run with it. I think that a lot of our teammates have done that and have done a great job. It’s a battle every single day and everyone has a fire underneath them and that’s the type of atmosphere you want at the professional level.

BS: With the growth of the NWSL into a 4th season, what changes have you seen making it possible for the 4th season and what could keep moving it forward?

AK: Obviously the addition of more teams has helped. The team in Orlando, which has been a tremendous addition because it’s so professional there, right from the start. Having the connection with the men’s team has helped them and they’ve only been in the league for 2 seasons. I think it was such a great addition and very professional and I think that that’s the way it’s going to be from now on. I think that is the key to automatically have a team that has a set up in some way.

Also, just really good support, having a great manager and a great owner who really loves women’s football, who really wants to see the game grow and the players happy. We have Bill Lynch and the Washington Spirit organization that has cared for women’s football for over 25 years. I remember, Bill, he always tells me that he used to watch me when I was so young, growing up and now I’m here playing for his club. That’s the way it should be, giving back to the women’s game. I think, in order for the NWSL to grow, we need owners like Bill and more support for the women’s game. But obviously, to have that professionalism that we have and some of the other teams that are connected with a men’s team. Obviously every team and owner that you see, in the NWSL now after 4 years, is all in and full go. I think that’s something that will help the NWSL to continue to grow as long as you have that support, I think it will continue to be successful like it has been.

I also think the more money we get into the league and the support from US Soccer, that needs to continue for it to be stabilized. It’s having great owners, good managers and staff that want to be here and want to see the women’s game grow and not because of the money, that’s just the idea you have to have coming into this.

BS: IF there was a NWSL All-Star game and you were the starting right back…

AK: Yes, I wish that was coming back, one of these days.

BS: Who would your other 4 of the back 5 be?

AK: Oh gosh, that’s a tough question. I would want all of MY teammates to be the back five, for sure, hands down. I love my teammates so much and I think that they’re some of the best players in the country. I think that I would love to just continue to crush with them, we’re so comfortable with each other, we’re doing really well. I don’t know how many goals against we have, not too many, it’s fewer than some other teams. I would love to just continue to play with my teammates. In all seriousness, to have an All-Star backline, I would have to sit and think about that and look at the other rosters. I’m just so focused on paying attention to what we have in our little bubble.

BS: In keeping with the Olympic Spirit, if you could take one athlete from any other sport and convert them from another sport and bring them to the Spirit, who would it be and what position?

AK: I think it would be either Allyson Felix or Simone Biles. That girl is so good she could probably do anything. If you put the pace of Allyson Felix with Simone Biles, if you mix the two I think you’d have an even more incredible athlete. I’d throw a jersey on her and put her up front with Crystal. I think her and Crystal could do the damn thing, wheeling and dealing.

Fit, Focused, and Black Lives: Crystal Dunn Preps for Rio

Posted on by RJ Allen

Much can change in the course of year. No one knows that any better than Crystal Dunn.

Last July the US women’s national team celebrated their third FIFA Women’s World Cup after 16 years, it was a momentous occasion that Dunn just narrowly missed. In a post-game celebratory interview, Abby Wambach still praised Dunn’s efforts even though she was cut from the final roster.

After missing out on the World Cup, Dunn utilized the NWSL as platform for herself. She went on a scoring spree, netting 15 goals for the Washington Spirit helping lead them into the NWSL playoffs for a semi-final match. She was awarded the NWSL golden boot winner for 2015. Her outstanding play led to more national team call-ups for the US victory tour, CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship, and the She Believes Cup.

She has shown she is ready to make the leap onto the international stage that is the Olympics.

Backline Soccer was able to discuss the Olympics, NWSL, and current social issues with Dunn before an Olympic friendly in Chicago. Rio is right around the corner, and with a roster yet to be named, Dunn remains focused on her Olympic dream despite the headlines around.

Backline Soccer: Can you talk to us about preparing for the Olympics in Rio in the middle of the NWSL season?

Crystal Dunn: “A lot of us here are 9 games deep in the league, it’s a lot of games. I think coming into this camp we all knew our legs might not even fully be where they need to be just because of the season we’ve had so far. Surprisingly, in the first few days we   were here we just clicked instantly, and sometimes that doesn’t happen at camp. You know we’re playing all over the field, and with different teams, and different players. Sometimes when you come into camp it’s so hard to get readjusted with everything, but this 9-day camp has been great so far. We’ve clicked, like I said. We’re all just so focused on the goal at hand and ready to have these sendoff games so we can be prepared for Rio.”

BS: It’s amazing what can happen in just a year. Going from the World Cup and falling short of making the roster there. Fast forward to this year with you being on the cusp of Rio. To be honest, you’re looking like you’ve got a pretty good shot to make the roster. Does the NWSL help play a part in keeping you fit and prepared for international tournaments?

CD: “For me, the league is the most intense league, I think. Just with the athleticism that’s in this league, you’re not really catching a break for 90 minutes. I think its prepared me really well. I feel fit. I feel healthy. I’ve been playing against really great players in the league, which has always prepared me for coming into national camps.”

BS: So, last season you went off on a scoring spree in the NWSL. We’re currently at the season midway point, and you have had some awesome assists. However, there may be some out there who think you’re not where you should be in terms of goals. Have you had to adjust your play a bit in preparation for Rio?

CD: “You know a lot of people ask how do you feel this year as opposed to that year, and it’s crazy to think that before last season – it’s not like I was on the radar for goal scoring. So I think that people have a way of kind of twisting what they think they know about the game and things like that. But I’ve also never had 4 assists in a season, you know? So, if they were to ask what’s this season like compared to last, I’d say I think I’m doing pretty well. Just for the fact that I’ve probably set a new goal now. I don’t have to be that person that’s going to score goals, but if I’m making other players around me look better, and play better then I think that’s exactly what I need to be doing. As a teammate I need to just wait for my moment and if a goal comes for me, then a goal comes. But at the end of the day if my team is winning then I would never sit and pout in a corner. [laughs]”

BS : Well said! Finally, I want to touch on something before we close. The other day Sydney Leroux put out a really awesome post on her blog, touching on some of the really sad things that have been going on the few days..

CD: “Oh YES.”

BS: Do you have any words of consolement? Or any words of advice for young girls of color who maybe woke up this morning feeling unsafe or uncomfortable in their own skin?

CD: “Yes. You know it’s crazy that all this is going on. I think not many things have been said about it. I think that’s the kind of disappointing stage. I think it’s crazy that when Orlando happened everyone kind of took a deep breath and was running to everyone’s call, and I feel like that’s great. I was one of those people that was like, this is a terrible thing that has happened in our country, we all need to be unified in this. But I think that the shootings that have been going on have been going on for years. I feel like people are now not even still waking up about the situation. Just as a Black woman on the national team I feel like this is something that needs to be said. You know, there’s not many of us that have been on this team. I always talk to Syd about these things. She’ll ask ‘Crys how do you feel?’ and I’ll say ‘I feel the same way as you.’ It’s just that I don’t know what can be done. I don’t know what words to truly say. I don’t want to make this about race because that happens a lot of the time. But I do think that the issues that are going on are a lot deeper than what people really think. So you know, it’s upsetting knowing that not that many people want to speak up on this issue that’s going on in our country.”

(Christen Press and Crystal Dunn | Source: Sandra Herrera @SandHerrera_)

The US women’s national team faced another Olympic bound team, South Africa on July 9. Some predicted an uneven match with the number 1 ranked FIFA team going up against the 52 ranked FIFA team. The game ended with a 1-0 score line with USA as the victors. Crystal Dunn scored the lone goal.

 

*This article was published back in July 2016 on Midfield Press. The Author has granted republishing on Backline Soccer*

Catching up with Christine Nairn

Posted on by RJ Allen

Christine Nairn, an Annapolis, Maryland, native, is no stranger to the Maryland SoccerPlex – the place she calls home on Saturday evenings. She not only grew up watching her brothers play there, but she herself played there as a youth player before going to Penn State and then being drafted by the Seattle Reign. She made her way back home two years ago, and I was lucky enough to catch up with her after training this week.

Backline Soccer (BS): With the sell out this Saturday, as one of three “hometown girls” on the team and having watched your brothers play here, how does it make you feel to see the growth and support for this team?

Christine Nairn (CN): It’s awesome for the growth of the game, like you said I’ve grown up playing here since I was like nine or ten or even younger going to watch my brothers play. For it to come full circle and to play in front of family and friends and former coaches, it’s a testament to this organization, to women’s soccer in general, to invest in the young players, the homegrown players as they call it around the US. We’re excited for the sell out and hopefully it’s the first of many for this year.

BS: With bringing in more help for Crystal Dunn up front, how does that help your play in the midfield, knowing you have a little bit more than last year where it was pretty much just Dunn over the top, knowing you have a little more space to work with?

CN: Crystal will always be one of the main targets for our team, I think she’s a force to be reckoned with. She’s shown why she was the MVP of the league last year and she carried us on her back the whole season. Crystal’s in a little different of a role this year, she’s getting in a little different spots on the field, different positions, so she’s still getting used to that. We’re still learning each other’s tendencies, the good thing about this team is that I don’t think we’ve reached our potential yet, each game we just focus on getting a little bit better than last game. I think, as we get better as a team, it won’t be the Crystal Dunn Show anymore, as much as it was fun to watch that show – if she wants to score 17 goals this year, by all means she can do it again, we wouldn’t hate that – but the more people zero in on Crystal, the more people are open, whether that’s on the outside, me in the midfield, or anywhere. Like Krieger said before, the depth of this team is so special, I think that even when the National Team girls are gone we have young players who have gotten minutes early on in the season and can step up and perform.

BS: Playing in the W-League the last two offseasons, what are some differences you’ve seen between the two leagues?

CN: Australia is so fun and every time someone asks about the Australian league, all the players have a smile on their face, it’s just an awesome time to go to Australia and play.  To keep fresh and clean on the ball and continue to stay fight is a positive of that and it works well with our season.  It’s still growing as a league and Australian soccer is getting bigger and bigger each year, I think that’s because the Matildas are getting better and better each year. I think they’re another force to be reckoned with this Olympic year, they’re going to be a dark horse team many teams might count them out. If you’ve seen the way they’ve been playing…

BS: They blew through qualifying.

CN: Yeah, they blew through qualifying and really gave the US a test in the World Cup last year and I think they’re going to surprise a lot of teams in the Olympics. If they can continue to produce and put on a game and attract more people, I think the W-League will continue to improve each and every year and I think that’s super important for their country as a sport and for their National Team for years to come.

BS: Going into week nine, how do you feel the tone within the team has changed or grown since week one and the outlook going forward?

CN: It’s probably gotten a little bit better with each and every day, like I said getting more comfortable with our starters and our players coming off the bench, getting into our roles and really embracing them. Never being satisfied. If I’m not starting, I’m going to accept my role, but I’m not going to be happy about it. I’m going to continue to push my teammates because I want what’s best for them and what’s best for this team is what’s best for me. If we can continue to push each other and get better each and every day, the sky’s the limit. One thing that I think that has stayed the same is our standard, we hold ourselves to such a high standard here, whether that’s Krieger getting on us or Crystal or D or Shelina or any of the Canadians. They keep the standard so high and say “it’s not good enough” and when those players leave, our main National Team players leave, there are other players stepping up and going into those roles. If we can keep that standard throughout the year I think we’ll be fine for the year and continue to get three points on the road and at home.

BS: Okay, hardest question I’m going to ask you, I’m a Penn State fan, what is your favorite creamery flavor?

CN: Peachy Paterno, with blue and white sprinkles. On my visit there, I ordered rainbow sprinkles and they corrected me like, “we only have blue and white sprinkles” and I was like, “Okay, sorry.” From that moment on I was like “Peachy Paterno – blue and white sprinkles.”

BS: You can actually order it online, they have coolers that you can put five half gallons in and a larger cooler.

CN: I didn’t know you could order it online, that’s determination. If there is one school that would ship their ice cream, it would be Penn State.