Athlete Spotlight: Kristen Euchler
 Photos by Paul Guillotte
Kristen Euchler |
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 McCann Tech seniorMidfield, No. 5 |
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| When did you start playing soccer? Age 8 What was your first soccer team? 'It was in the Hoosac Tunnel League. I think it was Ireland, actually, because I remember wearing the green shirts.' Favorite professional athlete: Pittsburgh Steelers' Hines Ward Favorite professional team: Steelers Best memory of playing soccer so far? 'Anytime I see a player get their first varsity goal is really fun. This year we had Mary, Allie and Chelsea get their first varsity goals and it was so nice to see them run around so excited.' Something about you people wouldn't know: 'Most wouldn't know that I'm a black belt in tae kwan do.' |
Mike Dowling's club has amassed double-digit wins and been on top of the Tri-County league standings for the past six years now. The 2009 campaign is more of the same for the Hornets, who have already qualified for the postseason with a record of 12-2-1 overall and 10-2 in the league.
There are a number of valuable contributors on McCann's squad this season, but no one has quite impressed Dowling like senior Kristen Euchler.
"She's the most versatile player we have this year," Dowling said. "She plays striker, center half, stopper, sweeper and outside half. She plays it all and she's tough and in shape. She can run all day. She's the one that spells everybody to keep everyone else fresh. She doesn't come out."
Euchler, a four-year varsity player for the Hornets, starts at left halfback but plays a number of different positions for Dowling. A few seasons ago, Euchler was a speedy player with good endurance. She's much valuable than that this year. Not only has her game improved on the field, but her leadership off of it has grown as well.
"She came into her own probably at the end of the last year," Dowling said. "Now everyone respects her and listens to her. She's good with the freshman and she works well with the seniors."
After scoring off of a Bryana Malloy pass in a 2-1 loss to Smith Academy on Tuesday, Euchler now has nine goals and seven assists this season. She also added another strike in a 5-2 win over Sci-Tech on Oct. 7, helping McCann earn its seventh consecutive trip to the postseason.
Euchler has been a part of four very solid Hornets' teams in her four years with the school. Although they've all been successful, she said the 2009 club has a slightly different feel to it.
"Besides all of the wins and everything, we just have a real good team," Euchler said. "I'm not just talking about talent right now. There's just a lot of good personalities and we're just working together really well right now."Unlike past McCann teams that featured 100-point scorers Heather Malloy and Kaitie Hendrickson, this group receives production from a number of different players. No one really stands above the crowd and everyone gets their chance to contribute.
"Anybody can score," Euchler said. "Like coach said before, he can put one player in as a sub and move six people around. It's not just one person in the middle scoring all of the time. We move everybody around, everyone gets a chance to score and everybody can score."
