Tuesday, November 17, 2009
USL Feature Article
Krystin Miller first appeared in the W-League during the 2008 season with the West Michigan Firewomen. She played in seven matches, accumulating 585 minutes of experience as a 19-year old. This past summer, Miller joined the Chicago Red Eleven for competition in USL’s Super-20 League. The jumpstart heading into her college season helped the junior rack up the second most minutes (1717) for the Fighting Illini behind junior goalkeeper Alexandra Kapicka. Illinois finished their season with a record of 7-9-3.
Heading into this weekend’s SoccerFest, USLsoccer.com found some time to ask Miller a few questions regarding her season at Illinois, the time she spent at the Super Y-League ODP National camps and her professional playing aspirations.
USLsocer.com: What are some things you remember about the Super-20 League?
Krystin Miller: The Red Eleven provided me with an awesome playing environment to prepare in the best possible way for the fall season at Illinois. It gave me an opportunity to gain game-like experience on the back line after I made the transition there from the midfield last spring.
USLsocer.com: Did you enjoy the Super Y-League ODP National Camps in Cocoa, Florida?
Krystin Miller: SYL ODP National Camp in Florida was awesome! It was great to play with players from all over the country and learn from new coaches. Plus, you just can’t beat that Florida weather.
USLsocer.com: Sum up your season at Illinois.
Krystin Miller: Overall, it was a tough season. Our non-conference schedule allowed us to play some of the best teams in the country – something we’ve never been able to do before. Also, not making the NCAA tournament was extremely tough. However, we’re taking away a lot of lessons from this season and learning what we can do differently.
The littlest things make the biggest difference, especially in those 1-0 losses. One of our focuses for next year will be to take everything from this season and build from here. Not even one practice can ever be taken for granted, especially when we have the opportunity to represent and showcase this university to the nation.
USLsocer.com: Who do you think will win the NCAA tournament?
Krystin Miller: Stanford’s undefeated record is pretty impressive, but it would be fun to see a team we played this season like UCLA win.
USLsocer.com: Who was the toughest player you played against during your college career?
Krystin Miller: Marking Lindsay Tarpley, Carli Lloyd and former Illinois standout Ella Masar in a spring game versus the Chicago Red Stars was not only difficult, it was incredible! I was tempted to ask for their autographs mid-play. It was definitely one of those "I’ll have to tell my grandkids!" moments.
USLsocer.com: Who was the toughest team you faced in the W-League in 2008?
Krystin Miller: FC Indiana is always a great program to play in the W-League.
USLsocer.com: Is the Elizabeth Lambert/University of New Mexico video being blown out of proportion or are players of that temperament actually not that common?
Krystin Miller: I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw it. Soccer will always bring physicality to certain degrees, but I’ve never seen nor experienced anything quite that extreme.
USLsocer.com: What’s the funniest thing that happened to you or one of your teammates during the college season?
Krystin Miller: I’m guaranteed to laugh until I cry when I am around our teammates, but there are definitely some moments that stand out. The bus driver from our Colorado weekend played Michael Jackson every moment we traveled. Some girls got up and started moving down the aisle. Before we knew it, MJ had a tribute dance party on the way to Macaroni Grill.
USLsocer.com: What are your professional playing aspirations?
Krystin Miller: If given an opportunity, I may continue to play after college. The biggest goal, however, would be to go to medical school. Helping people through medicine has been one of my biggest passions, especially in cardiothoracic surgery. I would absolutely love to do medical missionary work in Africa someday.
