I sat down with Dartmouth women's soccer's leading scorer Aly O'Dea '12 to talk about her travel schedule, the perks of post-games, and her recent black eye.
So how was the game Friday night?
AD: The game was frustrating, because we clearly dominated but let [Yale] capitalize on minor mistakes that we made.
What are your strengths as a team this year?
AD: Our chemistry. We all know each other really well, and we know each other's strengths and weaknesses, so that just helps us play more as a team.
Do you guys have some specific goals for the year?
AD: To win the Ivies.
Between traveling, playing, studying and having a life, how do you deal with your hectic schedule?
AD: Well, we got home at 2:30 in the morning the night after Yale, had 11 a.m. practice, then had to go straight from practice to four hours of rush. It's tiring, I'm really tired.
What's more nerve-wracking, the 90th minute of a tied game or your first rush event?
AD: Definitely the end of a tied game. Mostly because it's a tie, and it means you have to go into overtime, which is like 20 more minutes, and I'm already exhausted. All I'm thinking about is scoring so we can end the game right there. That said, overtime is great because right when you score, the game's over.
How were those long trips you made?
AD: Yeah, we had two five-day trips. They were both in preseason, so we've been fortunate that we haven't had to miss school. It's a lot of traveling. We drove to Virginia. It was 14 hours on a bus. Less than two days after we got back from that, we flew cross-country to Oregon and then school started.
Is it hard to share Burnham Field with one of Dartmouth's most successful teams?
AD: No, we rep Burnham Field. We keep the standards up.
Do you feel at all like you're playing in the shadow of men's soccer team?
AD: The men are very talented, but in no way do I feel like we live in their shadows [laughs]. Women's soccer and men's soccer are very different. Men's is obviously much higher-paced, whereas women's is more tactical and possession-oriented. There is more of a focus on keeping the ball.
What's it like coming from sunny Irvine, Calif., to Hanover to play soccer?
AD: It's really not that big of a deal until you get to November. Then it's tough. The parkas they give us are really nice, though.
Women get recruited to schools for soccer very early on. For how long did you know you were going to Dartmouth?
AD: In the Ivy League, commitments are typically later because you're not guaranteed an automatic in to the school as early as other schools do it, on the West Coast especially. A lot of my teammates from home were committed their early junior years in high school, whereas I wasn't committed until my senior year.
With your name, the nickname Bro-Dea must get thrown around all the time. How do you feel about it?
AD: No comment.
Fair enough, which girl on the team has the hardest shot?
AD: Jenny Stone ['10].
That's it?
AD: Yes.
Any pregame rituals?
AD: Yes.
Do you care to elaborate?
AD: Nope.
Mysterious... So what's the best part about playing soccer for Dartmouth?
AD: The tailgates. There's so much food. The parents who happen to be here host them, and they just buy a bunch of food and candy and snacks and cookies and they bake you things and get you goodies. It's awesome.
Have you ever been given a red card in a game?
AD: No, but I have gotten a black [points to eye].
How'd you get that shiner?
AD: I got shoulder-checked in the face by a rather large opponent. I fell onto the ground, she was fine though.
Did she get carded?
AD: No, she should have though. It's [expletive].
Sounds like it. Did you get any revenge?
AD: No, we lost [laughs]. But I can get her back when we win the Ivies.