Spring Break
Freshman Forward Off To Great Start
Women's Soccer
Mike Northup
Issue date: 9/25/07 Section: Sports
"I feel like I can talk to any senior on the team and get really good advice," Clark said. "They're just so open. Everyone's positive on the field, there's no negative talk. It's just very positive and very easy to talk to other people when you have some problems."
As a starter on the Mutiny, which sports seven current Huskies including Clark, she was able to grow more accustomed to the fast-paced, hard hitting style of play she has encountered in college.
"The speed of play is similar to this and I've been playing with a few of the girls on the team over the summer. Like, I've played with [Meghan] Schnur, played with Karyn [Riviere], I've played with Alex [Zedros] and with TJ [goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe] - basically playing with all of them, and playing at that level, which is similar to the college level, I think really helped me because it gave me a head start almost."
A Preseason Soccer Buzz All-American, Schnur has been a significant help for Clark on the playing field.
"I always talk to Schnur about things that I can improve on and she's almost like another coach, as well as a friend," Clark said. "I always ask her like 'What can I do here in this situation?' if I messed up, or I can be like 'oh, was that a good ball or shot?' or something and she'll help me because she's so much more experienced than I am."
Schnur, meanwhile, sees a bright future ahead of Clark and has seen improvement in her play even just seven games into the season.
"We knew going into the season because of what we had seen this summer that she was going to be a big impact player, and she clearly has been thus far," Schnur said. "I think she just brings a different element. We have a lot of players, Clark included, on the team this year that really threaten to get in behind defenses, which we've been kind of lacking [in the past.] Kids that are willing to take people on one-vs.-one and not be afraid, kind of be fearless and going at defenders, and I think that's what she brings."
Coming from the same town and high school that produced two-time All-American and UConn star Kerry Connors is a significant source of pride for Clark.
"I feel not like I'm following in her footsteps, but [I'm] the second girl from our town who is going to UConn, and I feel like I can be as consistently successful as she was if I work hard," Clark said.
While her college career is still young, Clark has gotten her own legacy at UConn off to a great start.
Contact Mike Northup at Michael.Northup@UConn.edu.
As a starter on the Mutiny, which sports seven current Huskies including Clark, she was able to grow more accustomed to the fast-paced, hard hitting style of play she has encountered in college.
"The speed of play is similar to this and I've been playing with a few of the girls on the team over the summer. Like, I've played with [Meghan] Schnur, played with Karyn [Riviere], I've played with Alex [Zedros] and with TJ [goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe] - basically playing with all of them, and playing at that level, which is similar to the college level, I think really helped me because it gave me a head start almost."
A Preseason Soccer Buzz All-American, Schnur has been a significant help for Clark on the playing field.
"I always talk to Schnur about things that I can improve on and she's almost like another coach, as well as a friend," Clark said. "I always ask her like 'What can I do here in this situation?' if I messed up, or I can be like 'oh, was that a good ball or shot?' or something and she'll help me because she's so much more experienced than I am."
Schnur, meanwhile, sees a bright future ahead of Clark and has seen improvement in her play even just seven games into the season.
"We knew going into the season because of what we had seen this summer that she was going to be a big impact player, and she clearly has been thus far," Schnur said. "I think she just brings a different element. We have a lot of players, Clark included, on the team this year that really threaten to get in behind defenses, which we've been kind of lacking [in the past.] Kids that are willing to take people on one-vs.-one and not be afraid, kind of be fearless and going at defenders, and I think that's what she brings."
Coming from the same town and high school that produced two-time All-American and UConn star Kerry Connors is a significant source of pride for Clark.
"I feel not like I'm following in her footsteps, but [I'm] the second girl from our town who is going to UConn, and I feel like I can be as consistently successful as she was if I work hard," Clark said.
While her college career is still young, Clark has gotten her own legacy at UConn off to a great start.
Contact Mike Northup at Michael.Northup@UConn.edu.
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