SR Profile: Mallory Bohl

What’s a winning World Cup strategy?
Well, us "jelly beans" think that cherry picking is the best strategy!

You lead off in shoot outs. What’s that like? You look pretty relaxed? Do you have ice in your veins or something else?
It is nerve racking because there is a lot of pressure on you, but soccer is a team sport and this years team is probably the most supportative and encouraging and it is great to know that nobody will be mad at you if you miss because they all know that you tried your best. I just focused and got into a routine during practices and that carried over into the games.

Favorite sportsman/woman of yours and why?
I know that it is cliché but there is a player on my dad's team that it very inspirational to me. He is a wide receiver who wasn't supposed to be a great player because of his size (he was tiny for a receiver) and this past summer he became really sick and lost even more weight but he fought back and became one of the most valuable players on the field and a great leader. I see him as an inspiration because as a defender I am not very big and I can get pushed around a lot but I can't let that stop me and still have a good presence on the field.

What’s one of your first memories of playing soccer?
I remember my first game, I was in first grade and at the time I had a neighbor who was very good at soccer and I always tried to imitate his moves so in my first game I tried to do a spin move that he did and I remember dribbling the ball around the entire center circle with all the coaches, players, and parents yelling at me, not knowing what I was doing. I learned that day that I was a defender.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received about playing defense in soccer?
Well the key to defense is being patient and letting the other player make the mistake because if not then you are the last person between them and the goalie.