Seniors Reflect on Marquette Experience
10/24/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 24, 2008
- Written By: David Kennison -- Marquette Athletics Media Relations
One of the bittersweet traditions in college athletics comes to Valley Fields on Friday night. It will be `Senior Night,' and the Marquette University women's soccer program will say goodbye to a trio of seniors in Katie Kelly, Shannon Cusick and Kelli DeBarge. Kelly has been a four-year member of the program while Cusick and Debarge both transferred in before their sophomore seasons. The group has a been a part of a Golden Eagle program that has gone 43-14-10 over the past three years, while Katie Kelly was a member of the 2005 squad that earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen.
"It's really a special group of young women," said head coach Markus Roeders. "It will certainly be a bittersweet night. They've meant so much to our program over the past few years, both on and off the field."
Defender Katie Kelly has started in 83 of 84 career matches, good for the third most in program history. Her 24 career assists also place her third on Marquette's all-time list, while her 0.29 career assists per match are good for second in Golden Eagle history. This season, Kelly has been part of a stifling back line defense that has only allowed 13 goals while pitching seven shutouts. However, numbers don't tell the entire story of Kelly's outstanding career. She acknowledges her Marquette experience has been about more than just soccer.
"I've always been in a Jesuit, Catholic environment so that's something that has served me well at Marquette. It's helped me mature and grow as a person. Having people around me who are so mature and strong in their faith has been great for me, " said Kelly.
Joining Kelly as a member of the back line defense, Shannon Cusick has started all 60 games in her Marquette career. Her presence in the center back has anchored a Golden Eagle defense that has allowed just 47 goals during that three-year stretch. After admittedly struggling her freshman season at Northwestern University, Cusick transferred to Marquette and immediately felt at home as one of "the family."
"My favorite memory at Marquette would be my first year. Having the feeling of finally enjoying my experience and being surrounded with people I really like was incredible," Cusick said.
Cusick points to a road trip to New York during that first year as a highlight of her career.
"We beat Syracuse in overtime and it rained the whole game. It was just miserable but it was so fun at the same time. Plus we got to go into New York City. It was such a memorable weekend."
Kelli DeBarge also took an indirect route to Marquette after transferring from Western Illinois in 2006. DeBarge made her first career start in a 1-0 win over Syracuse on October 12th, and has since started the past three games for the Golden Eagles. An increased role in the lineup, however, has not changed DeBarge's steady approach to the game.
"I think mentally I've had the same approach my whole career. I've tried not to over think things on the field. I realize I only have a few weeks left to play and now that I've had a good opportunity to get on the field the most important thing is just going out and having fun. If you over think things you aren't living in the moment and you play better on the field," she said.
The group will make their final appearance at Valley Fields this weekend, starting with a Friday night showdown against West Virginia as the Golden Eagles battle the Mountaineers for the championship of the American Division of the BIG EAST. Marquette wraps up the regular season with a Sunday afternoon contest with Pittsburgh. "The atmosphere is just going to be indescribable. What a great time to celebrate our last few games," said Kelly.
Cusick acknowledged the significance of the weekend as well.
"West Virginia is obviously a great team and we've never been able to beat them. Everything that Friday is to us with the championship, the players from the past being back in town, it will just add to the occasion," she said.
The seniors, however, recognize that their Marquette experience has transcended soccer into opportunities for immeasurable growth. The life of a college athlete is unique and the chance to form relationships with a diverse array of teammates working towards a common goal provides the bedrock of an experience that will last a lifetime.
"I've loved the experience of being around so many unique girls as teammates and so many girls that we really do grow close to and become family with," said DeBarge. "Plus, we have such an extended family over the different classes and we still stay in touch with them."
Cusick noted that her favorite memories at Marquette don't even come from the soccer field, but from the bonding that occurs off it.
"I'll always remember the preseason bonfire when we get assigned our `sisters' and talk about things other than soccer and that's when I really felt like I was part of something different because it wasn't just a group of players together, it was finding out who they actually were as people," said Cusick.
 Kelli DeBarge and Shannon Cusick  | |
With Senior Night on the horizon for the Golden Eagles, the trio will look towards a bright future after graduation. For Cusick and DeBarge, this season probably marks the end of an era as far as soccer is concerned as they look to move on with their lives. For Kelly, however, the game will continue to be important as ever.
"I want to play somewhere first, and I know I will coach at some point. We kind of laugh that one day I will have enough kids to field a soccer team," she said. "Except the goalie probably won't be very good, too short," the 5'5 Kelly joked.
For now, however, the trio has the business at hand of capturing the division title and making a deep run in both the BIG EAST and NCAA Tournaments. When asked about the legacy they would like to leave, Cusick noted the special bond shared by the team.
"I want people to recognize this group as one who overcame adversity and individuals who didn't necessarily have the same personalities, but were able to overcome that and successfully work for a common goal," she said.
Kelly was a bit more succinct.
"I want to be remembered for winning that division championship," she said with a smile.
Most of all, Friday night will be about honoring the careers of three women who have left their mark on a Marquette program that appears poised to be a force in the BIG EAST for years to come.
"Senior night is so exciting because it's something that at the end of my college career I can look back and say I enjoyed my experience, I didn't just get through it," said Cusick. "And I've truly enjoyed my experience at Marquette."
