Section B·Page 4
The University Daily Kansan
Friday, August 20, 1999
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August 27 & 28,1999
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY Kansan
Former backup is new soccer goalie
By Chris Wristen sports@kansan.com Kansan sportwriter
Pollard steps up with eye on goal
Ever since she was six years old, Betsy Pollard has dreamed of this.
Pollard, a senior goalkeeper for the Kansas women's soccer team, received the nod from Coach Mark Francis to be his starting goalie this fall.
And it almost didn't happen.
Two weeks before practice was to begin this season, Francis received a phone call from Garrity. She had decided that she didn't want to play anymore and that she would not be returning to the University.
"She let a lot of people down." Francis said. "There were a lot of people counting on her — her teammates."
Pollard has served as the backup keeper for the team since she was a freshman, when she played behind Jen Fecke. Last spring, after becoming academically ineligible, Fecke left the team and was replaced by Katie Garrity.
As the only remaining goale on the Kansas roster with game experience, Francis made Pollard his starter. He supports her in the new role.
"Betsy's been working very hard, and she's been doing an excellent job so far." Francis said. "She's taken the role very well and picked up her game and focus."
Enter Pollard.
"The kids voted her as a captain so they've obviously got a lot of confidence in her," he said.
He also is confident that the team supports his decision.
The team maintains its confidence level in Pollard, even though her game experience is minimal. Throughout the past three years she has seen action in four games logging 22 minutes of playing time. However, this isn't
"I have a good confidence in myself. If I have confidence in myself, then I believe my teammates will have confidence in me."
Betsy Pollard Kansas goalkeeper
"I've been in a lot of game situations in club and high school." Pollard said. "I train just like all the other keepers did, and on a lot of days, we have scrimmages, so I get a lot of game experience at practice. I think I'm ready to take the challenge."
a concern to Pollard.
Also contributing to her teammates' confidence may be Pollard's self-belief.
Since gaining the starting role, Pollard has shown much improvement on the field.
"I have a good confidence in myself," Pollard said. "If I have confidence in myself, then I believe my teammates will have confidence in me."
"Her confidence level and her ability in goal has doubled," said Kelly Miller, goalkeeper coach. "She's really come through for us."
Pollard realizes the opportunity she's been given and plans to make the most of it.
"It's my time to shine right now, so I have to go out there and give it everything I have," Pollard said. "I've never been given an opportunity as big as this one, so I've got to take advantage of it."
Pollard still has some adversity to overcome.
"Athletic-wise, she's not as strong as most of her counterparts that are going to be in goal," Miller said.
What she lacks in athleticism
she makes up for in other wavs.
"Character-wise, and her ability and heart for never giving up, by far exceeds and takes care of that deficit of athletic ability." Miller
Betsy Pollard is the new starting goalkeeper for the Kansas soccer team this season. She has been the backup keeper for Kansas since her freshman year. Pollard, a senior, is the team captain. Photo by Chad Cummings/KANSAN
said. "I've been really happy with her."
Francis agreed.
"She's a great role model," Francis said. "In the weight room she works very hard. She's very enthusiastic about what she's doing. She portrays that very well in how she carries herself and how she plays."
"She's ready now," Miller said. "I have all the confidence in her right now."
Pollard said her goal was to lead her team to the Big 12 Conference tournament in San Antonio.
Pollard is ready to be a starter, Miller said.
"It'd mean the world to me," Pollard said. "I don't even know how to put it into words. It'd be the greatest feeling ever. It'd just be everything I've waited for."
Edited by Julia Nicholson
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