By LAUREN GREEN
NJWildcats.com Junior Correspondent
Having the longest tenure on the Wildcats longer than anyone at three years, Kate Sands has been able to witness the tremendous transformation the ‘Cats have gone through since she joined the team.
In 2003, the Wildcats were a much different team than the one that the Wildcats faithful watch this year, but it was a good team nonetheless. The team finished the season at 7-7 – one of their best records ever. Several Penn State players including Stephanie Smith and Heidi Drummond played for the Wildcats in 2003.
However, last year Charlie Naimo stepped in as the head coach and the results changed dramatically. They went from barely reaching .500 to going 14-0 in the regular season. Naimo got the ball rolling, signing several former WUSA stars after the league folded. Among them were high scoring French forward Marinette Pichon and England star Kelly Smith. The Wildcats held a perfect record before tying the Vancouver Whitecaps Women 0-0 in the W-League Championship game and then falling on penalty kicks.
"It was hard," Sands said of the setback in the final after having gone undefeated all season.
But not winning the title last year has proved to be motivation for this season.
"We hope for (Vancouver) to be in the final to see who the better team is this year," Sands explained.
Should the Whitecaps and the Wildcats meet again, it would be in New Jersey and only a handful of players from last year’s team would be facing the team that kept them from the title. With a ton of new faces this year, it took some getting used to. Everyone had to get to know everyone’s personality on and off the field.
Sands dribbles in front of Christie Welsh. (Robyn McNeil).
The WUSA’s folding has certainly given Sands the chance to play with a number of top-level players. She played with the likes of Smith, Pichon, and Anne Makinen last season and with former WUSA stars Jenny Benson (Philadelphia Charge), Christine Latham (San Diego Spirit), Karina LeBlanc (Boston Breakers), and Christie Welsh (New York Power) this year. She also plays with Catherine Reddick, who would participated in the WUSA festivals last year and would been a sure star in the league as a rookie in 2004.
"I couldn’t ask for more," Sands exclaimed.
Not just soccer
Kate Sands chose Monmouth University in New Jersey over a number of other "high profile" schools such as North Carolina, Portland, Santa Clara and Virginia among other schools. Why?
"I really don’t know," she said.
She followed in the footsteps of United States Women’s National Team defender Christie Rampone (formerly Pearce in her college days), who also attended Monmouth. Plus it was close to her home in Cranford, NJ allowing her parents and siblings to come watch her play.
"It would have broken their hearts if I went too far away," Sands explained.
Not only was the proximity a plus, but also the campus itself is beautiful.
"It’s a mile away from the beach; the dorms are on one side and the classrooms and fields on the other," she said, creating a mental picture of what the campus is like.
Academically, the school was also a fit. Monmouth has exactly what Sands wanted to study - communications. Soccer wise, the Hawks have been to the NEC Tournament just about every year and head coach Krissy Turner was a great fit for Kate.
"My visit just felt right," she said. "I was comfortable with it."
Jersey girl
Kate Sands is playing in her home state for the #4 ranked club in the world according to Women’s World Football. It’s usually a goal for young players to be with the best team around and it’s the same story with Sands.
"I never expected it at first," she said about playing on the highest ranked team in the USA. "It’s soccer in my backyard."
Plus she’s lucky to not have to travel from as far away as some of the other players on the team – Canada, Texas, North Carolina and many others. There are plenty of family and friends in the stands.
She’s also had the opportunity to become a role model, something she never expected. Kids come up to her after the games and ask for her autograph.
"I’m like ‘wait, you know who I am?’" Sands explained of her reaction.
Training with the international and USWNT players has also been a great experience - very rewarding both on and off the field. Besides getting to play with these girls, getting to know that has been tremendous too.
"Kelly Smith is one of the best players in the world and I can just call her or email her," she said. "Not many people can do that."
They became friends and teammates with one another, sharing one passion, hobby and goal.
- Lauren Green is a Junior Correspondent for NJWildcats.com. She is 14 years old and attends eighth grade at DeMasi Middle School in Marlton. She is an avid soccer fan and writer and she plays in the South Jersey Girls Soccer League.
