FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University sophomore forward Kelsey McDonald|Kennett Square, Pa. (Unionville) is this week’s Longwood Female Athlete of the Week. She was also named the Big South Conference Attacking Player Of The Week October 10 for her efforts during two conference wins against Winthrop on October 4 and Gardner-Webb on Oct. 6. McDonald scored two goals, including one game-winner, and added one assist to lead Longwood to a pair of Big South home wins. The Lancers defeated the Eagles 2-1 in overtime as she was involved in both scores. McDonald scored the first goal in the 22nd minute, finishing a well-played through ball on the left side to help the team to a 1-0 advantage at the intermission, and provided the assist on the game-winning goal in the 94th minute when she delivered a nice ball into the box from the left side once again. McDonald capped her outstanding week with the first and game-winning goal in the 26th minute of a 2-0 win against the Bulldogs, collecting a loose ball in the box and finishing with a hard shot into the back of the net. The talented second-year starter is second on the team in scoring this season with three goals and three assists for nine points, and totals five goals and five assists in 32 career matches.
Question and Answer Session with Kelsey McDonald and Abby Pendleton
AP: What happened when you scored the game-winning goal against Gardener-Webb?
KM: It was Otto (Lindsey Ottavio) who passed the ball across the box and [the ball] was perfectly, right in front of the goal. I ended up falling after the shot, I don’t even remember, I think it went over to my left foot and just kind of went in.
AP: Were you expecting to score then or did it happen all of a sudden?
KM: The ball was sitting right in front of the box, so I was hoping it would go in, but I thought the defender was going to deflect it right before.
AP: How do you feel about having started every game this year as a sophomore?
KM: It’s really cool because we have a really good team this year and everybody is competing for that starting spot. [Coach Dyer] switches the lineup a lot, so it’s something you have to fight for, so it’s an honor to be starting.
AP: Because the lineup changes each week, do you push yourself harder?
KM: Yes, everybody is just really competitive with each other, which is good, that way every week it’s not a guarantee for anybody. Everybody is working their hardest and whoever has done well that week gets to start.
AP: How did you get started playing soccer?
KM: Probably, like everyone else, in the little four year old rec-league and then my neighbor started coaching a travel league, so that’s how I kind of got into it, and I stayed with that team throughout high school. I played for my high school team, too.
AP: Why did you choose Longwood?
KM: The coaches had a big factor in it, and I wanted to come south. I liked the campus with the brick and the white columns and things like that. I like the feel of the campus and it had a homey kind of feel to it.
AP: After you graduate do you plan on continuing your soccer career or going along the business route to pursue your major?
KM: I have no idea. If there were an opportunity to keep playing, I would definitely consider it because I feel like that is everyone’s dream to get to keep playing. If not, I’m definitely going to go into some kind of marketing. Ideally I’d like to go into New York City and do whatever I can there.
AP: Do you have any hobbies or anything outside of soccer that you like to do?
KM: We like to do intramural sports and stuff, so that’s fun. We did basketball last year, so I like to go do that type of thing.
AP: You also played basketball in high school. What made you pursue a collegiate career in soccer instead?
KM: In basketball I felt like I wasn’t good enough, and it’s harder because there are only five players that play at a time. It was not really an option. I just enjoy soccer more because I used to get so frustrated in basketball. Soccer is just fun and I like being outside and playing.
AP: Are you involved in anything else on campus?
KM: I’m in SAAC (Student Athlete Advisory Committee) right now with Otto and Taylor (Cave). You basically talk about community service projects and things you can do with all the athletic teams and you figure out ways to make sure that everybody is attending everyone else’s games. We try to get all the teams to come together on campus and help everyone else out.
AP: Do you have a pregame ritual?
KM: Everyone in the locker room likes to listen to music and things like that. Before the actual game starts, Otto will wrap this bracelet [around my wrist] every single time, and then before I go onto the field, I’ll hug my roommate and she’ll be like, ‘okay, go score,’ and I’ll be like, ‘okay, thanks,’ and run off.
AP: What is your favorite Longwood Soccer memory?
KM: This year we all belted out a JoJo song, ‘Too Little, Too Late,’ in the locker room because when we were playing Drexel there was a two hour rain delay, so we all just hung out in the locker room and I remember singing that song.
AP: Is there anything interesting about yourself or your family?
KM: My brother played football at the University of Delaware.
