Extra Time with Kennedy Kieneker
10/17/2017 | Soccer
Cali Crisler blasted down the left side of the pitch and won the ball just outside the left side of the 18-yd. box. She turned and played a pretty ball into the center of the box where junior Kennedy Kieneker took to the air and elevated several feet over her defender to connect with the cross and power the ball into the top-shelf of the Oregon State goal. It all happened so quickly, Kieneker barely knew what happened.
"It felt good," said Kieneker, smiling as she remembered the moment. "I was shocked when it happened so I didn't react the way I normally did. I was relieved and happy because Tony [Amato]is never happy when we're up by just one so to get another kind of sealed the deal."
Kieneker's goal over the weekend was the second tally in the Wildcats 2-0 victory over Oregon State. Although not a top competitor this year, Arizona had to stay focused for their match against the Beavers.
"We won, but it's tough to transition from playing the California teams who have big names to Oregon State. It's the halfway point of conference play so we were worried to see how that was going to go."
In addition to giving the Wildcats the win, Kieneker's goal made her the eleventh player on the roster to score at least one goal this season. That's the equivalent of a whole starting lineup that has scored for the Wildcats.
"I think because Gabi [Stoian] has been injured we haven't had to rely on her and always play through her. Other players have stepped up. Jill [Aguilera] and Jada [Talley] have really stepped up."
There's no doubt that a level of scoring diversity such as that has led to the Arizona's success this season, as they hold the No. 21 spot in the NCAA's RPI.
"We're playing really well. It's been a bit of a change because we can possess the ball more than we used to, so we're focusing more on our ability to attack than counter. Last year we were very focused on the other team and being able to defend them, so that once we won the ball we hoped we could catch them off balance. I would say it's a confidence thing."
Kieneker starts as a center-midfielder for Arizona and has a key new asset on the sideline this year that's been instrumental in her success: assistant coach Kate Norton.
"It's really nice to have a midfielder coach. Paul [Nagy] was a goalkeeper, and Tony [Amato] was a forward. It's really nice to have a midfielder's perspective, she has taught me a lot in the past few months. She has a very high soccer IQ and will teach me what to do in certain situations, she'll keep me and Kelcey [Cavarra] after practice and work on technique."
Cavarra is the other midfielder that joins Kieneker in the starting lineup. Cavarra got a few reps last season but has earned the start in every match in the 2017 campaign. Kieneker is happy about that.
"I love her. We play pretty similarly so I always know what to do and how to support her and I know she always has my back. Last season was a different formation and Hannah Stevens played in the midfield. This year it's only been us two in the middle so we've grown together."
There are a few players on the roster that are known to bring a lot of energy into the Arizona locker room, and we've identified a few of them before: Lainey Burdett, Samantha Falasco, etc. But Kieneker's name doesn't fall among that list of players. Before every game it's all business for the center-midfielder.
"In the locker room I don't contribute much to the hype and the dancing. I just like to sit and visualize and focus. But, there's a good balance of people that get hyped up and people that get in their own zone."
