FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood University field hockey sophomore standout Jennifer Burris/Virginia Beach has been named this week’s Longwood Female Athlete of the Week. Burris earned Northern Pacific Field Hockey Conference (NorPac) East Division Co-Offensive Player of the Week accolades after having a career day to propel Longwood to an 8-1 victory against league opponent Appalachian State University on September 14. In the outing, she logged a personal-best two goals and two assists for a career-high six points. She also added one assist earlier in the week in the squad's contest against James Madison University on Sept. 11. This is Burris' first career Player of the Week nod after garnering NorPac East Rookie of the Week accolades twice in 2012.
Question and Answer Session with Jennifer Burris and Roksana Qasimi
RQ: What did it feel like to be named NorPac East Offensive Player of the Week?
JB: It was really exciting. I wasn’t expecting it at all. It’s a great honor for Longwood and for our team to get on there because our goal is to win the NorPac this year and really make a name for ourselves. We’re on the right track, so I think it’s good.
RQ: Were you expecting the strong offensive performance from the team against App State?
JB: I don’t want to say we were expecting it, but we do know that our team has the capability to be really strong this year. When we do the things that we’re asked and it all comes together, we know that we can be really powerful, so that’s what we did. It worked out in our favor.
RQ: Did you expect to contribute as much as you did in that game with the two goals and two assists?
JB: I always try to play at my best level and I guess that day it just worked out. My teammates gave me the ball when they could and the same for my assists. We were just trying to get the ball in the goal.
RQ: Talk about reaching a career-high six points in such an early season game.
JB: Our coach keeps saying our team is a team of firsts. So hopefully we can keep going on that and people can individually reach new firsts, as well, like I just did. I think we’re going to do really well this year, so I’m excited.
RQ: What would you say is a motto you live by as an athlete?
JB: Our coach tells our team that if you make a decision in a game, you need to make that decision 110%. Even if it is the wrong decision, if you commit to it our team will follow with you and make something good out of it. Making a decision is 100% better than not doing so.
RQ: Who do you consider to be a role model in your life?
JB: My high school field hockey coach is a role model for me because in school, she humbled me a lot, which was good for me to have. In Division I, you quickly face the reality of how good or not good you are, so I think she was a big part of that. Also, as far as motivation and being able to talk to someone, even off the field, she was always there.
RQ: Do you have any pre-game rituals or superstitions?
JB: Not really. I just try and keep everyone positive and keep myself positive. There is a point during our pregame where you turn off the loud music and it’s more of a serious tone because you have to be focused. The only thing that I do consistently every game is that Nicole Segala and I put our jerseys right next to each other on the bench. We’ve been doing that since my freshman year last year. A couple people have tried to intercept that issue and we wouldn’t let that happen. Overall, I’m not very superstitious. I think you just go out there and do what you do, and whatever happens is meant to happen. Obviously that’s working so far!
