November 27, 2023 • 18 mins
Aly Wagner sits down with Houston Dash's goalkeeper Jane Campbell, one of NWSL's 2023 Best XI Presented by Mastercard honorees. They discuss her stellar season, how she prepares for every game, and which strikers are the most deceptive.
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Twenty twenty three was Jane Campbell's best season in goal yet.
Campbell anchored one of the league's best defenses, allowing just
eighteen goals in twenty two matches. Campbell played every minute
of every game, recording eight clean sheets and her third
iron Woman season. I sat down with the twenty twenty
three NWSL Best Eleven presented by MasterCard Honoree to discuss
(00:25):
her epic season and her new mental preparation that has
greatly impacted her understanding of the game. Congratulations Jane on
being named to the twenty twenty three NWSL's Best Eleven
presented by MasterCard. I mean, you've had incredible seasons before,
but this is your first time being on the Best eleven.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
What does it mean to you.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Yeah, I'm super armed and super grateful.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
I mean, I wouldn't have predicted that this year, but
I'm so thankful for kind of, like I guess, the
nomination and to be selected for the Best Eleven. And
I really just have to say thank you to my
teammates for helping me have such a strong year. I mean,
you know, I know it's my face in my name,
but I really want to credit my teammates for all
(01:09):
their hard work as well, so I wouldn't be there
without them.
Speaker 5 (01:11):
Why would you say that you wouldn't have expected this
award for this season.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
I don't know. I'm not sure.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
I you know, it's just never really been on the radar,
to be honest, So I'm thankful it was this year.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
You know.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
It's quite the honor, and you know, I am very,
very thankful, but it's just something I never really expected.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Yeah, well, what is on your radar? Right?
Speaker 5 (01:35):
Because for goalkeepers, you're twenty eight years old now, they
say that you start to peak later in your career
relative to field players.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Do you think that you are in that sweet spot?
Speaker 3 (01:45):
You know, I hope not. I hope I'm still young.
Speaker 4 (01:49):
But at the same time, you know, I've been here
seven years, and to me, that seems really old. So
I hope I'm still on the younger side of the mountain.
I you know, I know goalkeeping lifespans are much longer,
like you said, than field players, so you know, that
is something that I guess I'm a little bit fortunate
(02:12):
to have on my side is a little bit of time,
but you know, tomorrow this all could end, So I'm
just thankful. I had a really good year, and I'm
hoping that, you know, the years to come, I do
start to peak. I hope this is kind of just
the beginning. And I'm kind of kicking myself because I
think earlier on in my career I was just that
young athletic luck that thought.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
They knew it all and I clearly didn't.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
And I've learned so much and I have seven years
as a pro and I'm thankful that this year it
just it all came together.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
You know.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
I again, it's me, but it's really the team's effort
this year that it really came together. Defensively for us.
Speaker 5 (02:47):
Yeah, but you personally feel like perhaps things are coming
together for you as well, because I know you're going
to give credit to your back line. That is what
the best goalkeepers always do. But what did you learn?
You talked about thinking you knew it all early on.
You know, now you're in a different phase. What does
that phase look like?
Speaker 4 (03:03):
I think just coming out of college, you know everyone
everyone who gets drafted or not even drafted, but you
just make the pro teams, right, You were that big
fish in that small pond in college and then coming
into the progame, you quickly become the tiniest little minnow.
And obviously the last few years we've seen some really
young players really really shine in this league, which is awesome.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
But I was not one of those.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
And you know, early on in my career, I think
I was humbled quite quickly, and I'm very thankful for that.
But I think I just really relied on just my athleticism.
I didn't really use my brain all that much. And
you know, the game just evolves every year. It gets faster,
it gets stronger, people are more intelligent, and there's just
so much evolution in our game, which is so exciting.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
So I think for me the last maybe three or four.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
Years, I think I really just tried to learn more
about the game and find different trends and patterns and
see if I can apply that in my training as well,
not just rely on the physical side of things. And
you know, this year, I think as a staff and
as a collective with the players, we really all were
on the same page in regards to you know, scouting
and training and what we were trying to accomplish every day.
(04:10):
And you know, for me that it really did help
my performance in each game. So I think for me,
my brain kind of clicked on the last few years,
which I'm thankful for, so hopefully it's faison the rest
of my career.
Speaker 5 (04:22):
What resources were you utilizing when you talked about looking
at trends and things you wanted to implement in your
game at particular.
Speaker 4 (04:29):
Yeah, I'm I think I've learned over the years that
I'm a huge visual learner. You know, you and I
could be talking. You could tell me some sort of
pattern you see in a game, and I might understand it,
but if I see it on a screen or even
just a little PowerPoint photo, all have it memorized for life.
So this year I was really really adamant that I
(04:49):
made sure I saw photos and you know, clips of
players if we're playing a certain team, and making sure
I can just identify that in the run of play.
And the cool thing about our sport is that there's
not really one set player set pattern obviously, so if
you can, you know, at least for me, if I
can recognize a pattern that's about to start, Maybe it
might not be the exact same of what I saw
(05:10):
on the scout, but it could be similar. And I
think that just really helped me calm my nerves a
bit in the game. And you know, I always say
that if I prepare in the week, then come game time,
I don't really need to be also nervous because I've
prepared the best I can and the rest kind of
is out of my hands, you know. So, but I
know if I don't prepare in the week, then I'm
going to be kicking myself.
Speaker 5 (05:30):
This is super fascinating to me because I'm the first
one to say I know nothing about being a goalkeeper,
and you're telling me that you're actually looking for for
certain movements and patterns of play collectively from the opposition
or individually, and so you can then react to what
you expect will be their shot.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Is that Am I understanding you correctly? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Pretty much? At least that's how I learned, you know.
Speaker 4 (05:52):
Again, Like I'm super visual, So if I saw a
clip of someone or even just a build out from
the other team's goalkeeper all the way up to their
front line, and I can identify some things, I hopefully
can try and like almost predict what's going to happen.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
Obviously I'm not.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
Gonna really predict the whole game, but I think I'll
just have a better understanding of what could happen. So
then at least I can organize the people in front
of me and maybe they'll end up blocking a shot
that won't even get to me and it's no problem.
So for me, that's how I learned, and I think
it just really really was important this year to make
that impact defensively.
Speaker 5 (06:28):
Yeah, that sounds really incredible and something that, to your point,
it can steady you because you have that confidence knowing
that this is a pattern that's recognizable. Is there a
striker that you face that you think is more deceptive
than any other striker in the league.
Speaker 4 (06:44):
That's a good question. I'll have to tip my hat
to Jade and Shaw this year. I mean the goal
she scored against us when we were away at San Diego.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
I thought was class.
Speaker 4 (06:54):
I mean, she faked me out and you know, I
thought she was going to play ball across to Alex
and Low and behold, she sure didn't and she ended
up scoring. So hats off to her. Is a great
finish and she's done quite well. I haven't really played
against her a lot. Obviously, she's so young, has a
bright future. Savannah McCaskill obviously, you know, makes waves in
LA and she's super fun to watch and growing up
(07:16):
with her, and she's just really evolved through her career
as a pro to, so she's really exciting. Obviously, Trinity
Rodman's lightning fast. Lynn Williams is so clinical and you know,
I mean I could go on and on. It's really
really fun to play against all of them though. They all,
I mean, every four in this league brings something so
different and you really have to pay attention to everybody's
(07:39):
characteristics because there you can't you can't really compare one
to the other.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
They're all so different, which is so cool in this league.
Speaker 5 (07:46):
Yeah, so you study those individuals before you probably face
them on the weekend.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
I do my best.
Speaker 4 (07:52):
I certainly don't cover all the bases, but you know,
everyone brings out a little bit of flair that you
can ever predict, right, and.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
That's the cool thing about our sport.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
But really just the forward line and any any attacking player,
their mindset is just so creative and it's not really
you know, we don't really have that creative flare.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
In the back. You know, it's always keep it safe,
keeping simple. But I'll do you right, Yeah, if you
make if you make one mistake, you're done.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
Though, so I do my best to study them, but
you know, sometimes it doesn't really play in my favor.
Speaker 5 (08:25):
Well, you've also been incredible at penalties, right, so what
is the skill there? Obviously you do your homework, but
what is the skill that you have any that allows
you to be so exceptional?
Speaker 3 (08:36):
I think just.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
From such a young age, I was told I don't
know if it's true or not, but I was told that,
you know, the player has some wildly large percentage to
make it right and I have a really small percentage
to save it. And I've kind of just stuck with
that my whole life. And I'm hoping it's true because
I keep telling people that. But I think for me,
like when I when the when a penalty is called
(08:58):
or you're in a shootout, it's kind of like, well,
I literally have nothing to lose. I'm supposed to fail.
I'm not supposed to say this. So at that moment,
my mind just switches in It's like, well, here we go.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
I mean, what what.
Speaker 4 (09:10):
Could literally go worse? I mean we're either going to
get scored on or or not. And so for me,
it really just calms my nerves. And then you know,
it's almost like I just take a big deep breath
and I kind of just like step into my office
and I'm like, okay, here I am for a business meeting,
you know, like let's get it going.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
And uh, that's just my approach.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
I mean I do it every every time, whether it's
the run of player a shootout, and it just keeps
me really calm, and you know, I guess fortunately it's
worked out a little bit in my favor.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
But you know, they're tough. They are quite hard to save.
Speaker 5 (09:42):
To be here, we got to get you your own
podcast called Step into my Office.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
That is so good. Now you got to start a
little snack talking every time the penalties. Yeah, welcome to
my office. Yeah, what are you particular?
Speaker 5 (09:56):
And you've talked about the mental game that you're now
evolving in from a goalkeeper stamp point. What else are
you now trying to layer on top of that new
piece of your game?
Speaker 4 (10:06):
I think now I really want to just expand, you know,
kind of globally and what the women's game is, you know,
kind of providing and also evolving towards I know, our league. Obviously,
people say it's super transitional, it's really fast and physical,
which it certainly is, but then other leagues around the
world are different, which is great, but you don't really
(10:29):
see the leagues really mixing all that much yet in
the styles. And so for me, I really would love
to study players out of our league, and not that
you know, I shouldn't really focus all that much because
if they're not in our league, I'm not going to
face them. But it's interesting because I do wonder, you know,
which league is going to kind of trend first. And
that's kind of the cool thing about soccers. When even
(10:51):
the men's game, something trends, and whether it's a formation
or a style play, something will trend and then people
will follow, and I wonder which league and the women's
game is god a trend first, and you know, if
someone else trends first, I kind of want to be
on top of it. So I think I do kind
of want to start really watching women's soccer outside of
our league a bit more and see if I can
(11:13):
pick up different patterns from their leagues and you know,
their styles, and see if it could apply.
Speaker 5 (11:17):
And the end to besell, Yeah, that's actually really fascinating.
The macro perspective for a goalkeeper. Talking to Kailan Sheridan
the other day she mentioned how she wants to evolve. Yes,
we've seen goalkeepers play out of the back, you know,
because Pep started that, I would say, what ten years
ago or so, But there's another level in goalkeeper's ability
to actually influence the offensive side of the game.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
Do you feel that way.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
Yeah, I mean I've I think that's been a huge
strong suit of mine. Obviously Kaylen's that's her bread and butter,
and you know, that's definitely a huge trend. But you
kind of saw it first in the men's game, and
now it's really hitting the women's game, and you know,
hats off to Kailin she's kind of really started that
trend the women's side internationally as well.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
So I think it's a huge, huge part of the
women's game now.
Speaker 4 (12:06):
I mean, any kid playing who's you know, ten and app,
I mean they got to be able to play with
their feet and be able to paying balls left front
and center to really start the attack because it's such
an important piece and you can clean up stuff behind
the back line where your defenders don't have to run
sixty more yards and simple stuff like that. But I
do think we're essentially like the eleventh field player now,
whereas before we were kind of just thrown back there
(12:28):
and kind.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
Of just hope you make it, hope you make the save.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Right.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
So yeah, it's definitely definitely a huge trend right now,
and I hope it stays that way.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
It's really fun to play.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
High like that, talk about hoping to make the save.
I'm always fascinated by this. Goalkeepers.
Speaker 5 (12:41):
Of course you want less shots, less shots, better outcomes,
right that your face. But do you actually thrive in
chaos when you're just getting peppered by moments or do
you prefer to be able to be set, make your
read and try to make your save.
Speaker 4 (12:55):
I mean, personally, I don't want the chaos, but chaos
does occur all the time, right you know. I think
if you're controlled in the chaos, then to me, it's
not really chaos. And you know, Houston, we've had tons
of chaotic moments, you know.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
I think we all can.
Speaker 4 (13:13):
We all can say that, and which is great, but
it's really challenged us. And I think in those moments,
if we're all communicating and on the same page, then
the chaos kind of just goes away, even though it
probably looks chaotic from the outside. So for me, you know,
whatever comes my way in the game, I'm gonna we're
gonna have to deal with it, right, But chaos can
be fun obviously for the entertainment, but I'm sure everyone
(13:36):
would prefer less chaos.
Speaker 5 (13:39):
Well, let's talk about Houston because you guys, you know,
you had a high of winning a Challenge Cup, but
you also haven't been as consistent as a club. I
would say season to season as you would probably anticipate
or like, you know, from the inside, what is it
going to take for you guys to get Houston moving
up that that ladder and back in playoff contention next season?
Speaker 4 (14:00):
I think, just for me, my one thing would probably
just be like stability. We've got to be able to
maintain the core of players and build off the core
whoever the core may be, right, whoever the coach decides,
And I hope we get a coach that you know,
will stick around for years to come and really build
whatever they envision.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
This club to be.
Speaker 4 (14:20):
And you know, I don't think you can build any
business without stability.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
So that would be my first thing.
Speaker 4 (14:27):
And you know, Houston, I'll say it loud enough for
the people in the back It's an amazing city. And
you know, this club has so much potential, and I
think from the outside it gets a bad rep for
some reason, probably because the heat. But you know, when
everyone comes here, they love it. And our locker room
is an incredible locker room, and.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
There's just so much potential here and I know we
can do really great things.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
What do you love about Houston?
Speaker 3 (14:52):
Oh, the food is great.
Speaker 4 (14:54):
I have to say that the weather doesn't bug me,
just being from Atlanta, so being hot and stuff isn't
too bad.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
But I love the food.
Speaker 4 (15:01):
That people are just so welcoming and it's so diverse,
and you can go anywhere in the city and find
any sort of person, any sort of food, and I
think that's just really really cool. You don't really have
it in any other city in the world right now,
or at least in our country, not the world.
Speaker 5 (15:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
No, I love Houston when I've been able to visit.
It's been a while though. Can you tell me all
about the tats your sleeves?
Speaker 4 (15:23):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Yeah, yes, I really want to know.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
We might need to edit it for my mother, but.
Speaker 4 (15:29):
Yeah, my sleeve I got it when I was I
think it was my twenty first or maybe eighteenth birthday
present to myself. I told my parents that when I
was really young that I was going to get a
bunch of tattoos, and I don't think they really believed me,
but I did, and I coached when I was in
college and saved up all this cash and you know,
got myself a sleeve. But the whole sleeve is actually
(15:50):
dedicated to my family. Everything on it is for my brother,
my mom, or my dad, and a couple things are
for myself, but most of it's for my family. There's
flowers on there for each person, and a couple thanks
for my brother, and let's.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
See the state of Georgia, and a couple quotes. So yeah,
it's all for my family.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
And your parents come to every match? Do they? Not?
Speaker 4 (16:13):
Not every, but they do try and make it out
to at least a few of the home games, which
has been great. They always make it to Orlando because
it's a quick My mom likes to drive there, so
they go to Orlando. And then they always try and
go to North Carolina because again it's a quick trip
for them driving, even though they could probably fly make
it quicker. But yeah, they try and come out as
much as they can.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
I remember seeing them at the Stanford games.
Speaker 5 (16:36):
Oh.
Speaker 4 (16:36):
Yeah, they loved coming to Stanford. They were like, the
weather out here is perfect. You know, everything's great out here.
And I was like, well, you might as well just
move on out then, Hey, we'll take more, come on,
we'll take it.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
Yeah, Jane would love to know.
Speaker 5 (16:50):
What your priceless moment would be from the twenty twenty
three season.
Speaker 4 (16:54):
My priceless moment from the twenty twenty three season was
when I believe we eight shutouts and that was a Dash.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
Record or it tied a Dash record. I can't actually
remember what game it was.
Speaker 4 (17:07):
It might have been Louisville away, but it was towards
the end of the year. And I think that moment
just for the year. I think it really just told
us how good we were defensively, and that just meant
to me that we were a really hard team to beat,
and I.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
Thought it was really cool. I mean, we didn't reach
our goal.
Speaker 4 (17:27):
Our goal at the beginning of the year was se
to get ten shoutouts this season, and I know we
fell short, but to tie the Dash record for so
many seasons, I think it really just proved to us
that all the work we put in defensively this year
really paid off, and obviously we wish we could have
gotten ten, but there's always next year. But I think
that game, we really all kind of came together and
(17:47):
we were like, Wow, we were pretty good this year defensively,
and I think we're all.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Really proud of that.
Speaker 3 (17:51):
So that would be my priceless moment for twenty twenty three.
Speaker 5 (17:54):
Congratulations because I know that as a goalkeeper you take
a ton of pride in shutouts, but you gave a
lot of respect to your back line for helping you
and achieving that feat. Yeah, regardless, you are the leader
of that back line and it's been fun to watch
you this season and watch you grow, so I know
more exciting stuff to come from you in the future.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
Congratulations again, Jane, Thank you so much.
Twenty twenty three was Jane Campbell's best season in goal yet.
Campbell anchored one of the league's best defenses, allowing just
eighteen goals in twenty two matches. Campbell played every minute
of every game, recording eight clean sheets and her third
iron Woman season. I sat down with the twenty twenty
three NWSL Best Eleven presented by MasterCard Honoree to discuss
(00:25):
her epic season and her new mental preparation that has
greatly impacted her understanding of the game. Congratulations Jane on
being named to the twenty twenty three NWSL's Best Eleven
presented by MasterCard. I mean, you've had incredible seasons before,
but this is your first time being on the Best eleven.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
What does it mean to you.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Yeah, I'm super armed and super grateful.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
I mean, I wouldn't have predicted that this year, but
I'm so thankful for kind of, like I guess, the
nomination and to be selected for the Best Eleven. And
I really just have to say thank you to my
teammates for helping me have such a strong year. I mean,
you know, I know it's my face in my name,
but I really want to credit my teammates for all
(01:09):
their hard work as well, so I wouldn't be there
without them.
Speaker 5 (01:11):
Why would you say that you wouldn't have expected this
award for this season.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
I don't know. I'm not sure.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
I you know, it's just never really been on the radar,
to be honest, So I'm thankful it was this year.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
You know.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
It's quite the honor, and you know, I am very,
very thankful, but it's just something I never really expected.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Yeah, well, what is on your radar? Right?
Speaker 5 (01:35):
Because for goalkeepers, you're twenty eight years old now, they
say that you start to peak later in your career
relative to field players.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Do you think that you are in that sweet spot?
Speaker 3 (01:45):
You know, I hope not. I hope I'm still young.
Speaker 4 (01:49):
But at the same time, you know, I've been here
seven years, and to me, that seems really old. So
I hope I'm still on the younger side of the mountain.
I you know, I know goalkeeping lifespans are much longer,
like you said, than field players, so you know, that
is something that I guess I'm a little bit fortunate
(02:12):
to have on my side is a little bit of time,
but you know, tomorrow this all could end, So I'm
just thankful. I had a really good year, and I'm
hoping that, you know, the years to come, I do
start to peak. I hope this is kind of just
the beginning. And I'm kind of kicking myself because I
think earlier on in my career I was just that
young athletic luck that thought.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
They knew it all and I clearly didn't.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
And I've learned so much and I have seven years
as a pro and I'm thankful that this year it
just it all came together.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
You know.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
I again, it's me, but it's really the team's effort
this year that it really came together. Defensively for us.
Speaker 5 (02:47):
Yeah, but you personally feel like perhaps things are coming
together for you as well, because I know you're going
to give credit to your back line. That is what
the best goalkeepers always do. But what did you learn?
You talked about thinking you knew it all early on.
You know, now you're in a different phase. What does
that phase look like?
Speaker 4 (03:03):
I think just coming out of college, you know everyone
everyone who gets drafted or not even drafted, but you
just make the pro teams, right, You were that big
fish in that small pond in college and then coming
into the progame, you quickly become the tiniest little minnow.
And obviously the last few years we've seen some really
young players really really shine in this league, which is awesome.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
But I was not one of those.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
And you know, early on in my career, I think
I was humbled quite quickly, and I'm very thankful for that.
But I think I just really relied on just my athleticism.
I didn't really use my brain all that much. And
you know, the game just evolves every year. It gets faster,
it gets stronger, people are more intelligent, and there's just
so much evolution in our game, which is so exciting.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
So I think for me the last maybe three or four.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
Years, I think I really just tried to learn more
about the game and find different trends and patterns and
see if I can apply that in my training as well,
not just rely on the physical side of things. And
you know, this year, I think as a staff and
as a collective with the players, we really all were
on the same page in regards to you know, scouting
and training and what we were trying to accomplish every day.
(04:10):
And you know, for me that it really did help
my performance in each game. So I think for me,
my brain kind of clicked on the last few years,
which I'm thankful for, so hopefully it's faison the rest
of my career.
Speaker 5 (04:22):
What resources were you utilizing when you talked about looking
at trends and things you wanted to implement in your
game at particular.
Speaker 4 (04:29):
Yeah, I'm I think I've learned over the years that
I'm a huge visual learner. You know, you and I
could be talking. You could tell me some sort of
pattern you see in a game, and I might understand it,
but if I see it on a screen or even
just a little PowerPoint photo, all have it memorized for life.
So this year I was really really adamant that I
(04:49):
made sure I saw photos and you know, clips of
players if we're playing a certain team, and making sure
I can just identify that in the run of play.
And the cool thing about our sport is that there's
not really one set player set pattern obviously, so if
you can, you know, at least for me, if I
can recognize a pattern that's about to start, Maybe it
might not be the exact same of what I saw
(05:10):
on the scout, but it could be similar. And I
think that just really helped me calm my nerves a
bit in the game. And you know, I always say
that if I prepare in the week, then come game time,
I don't really need to be also nervous because I've
prepared the best I can and the rest kind of
is out of my hands, you know. So, but I
know if I don't prepare in the week, then I'm
going to be kicking myself.
Speaker 5 (05:30):
This is super fascinating to me because I'm the first
one to say I know nothing about being a goalkeeper,
and you're telling me that you're actually looking for for
certain movements and patterns of play collectively from the opposition
or individually, and so you can then react to what
you expect will be their shot.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Is that Am I understanding you correctly? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Pretty much? At least that's how I learned, you know.
Speaker 4 (05:52):
Again, Like I'm super visual, So if I saw a
clip of someone or even just a build out from
the other team's goalkeeper all the way up to their
front line, and I can identify some things, I hopefully
can try and like almost predict what's going to happen.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
Obviously I'm not.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
Gonna really predict the whole game, but I think I'll
just have a better understanding of what could happen. So
then at least I can organize the people in front
of me and maybe they'll end up blocking a shot
that won't even get to me and it's no problem.
So for me, that's how I learned, and I think
it just really really was important this year to make
that impact defensively.
Speaker 5 (06:28):
Yeah, that sounds really incredible and something that, to your point,
it can steady you because you have that confidence knowing
that this is a pattern that's recognizable. Is there a
striker that you face that you think is more deceptive
than any other striker in the league.
Speaker 4 (06:44):
That's a good question. I'll have to tip my hat
to Jade and Shaw this year. I mean the goal
she scored against us when we were away at San Diego.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
I thought was class.
Speaker 4 (06:54):
I mean, she faked me out and you know, I
thought she was going to play ball across to Alex
and Low and behold, she sure didn't and she ended
up scoring. So hats off to her. Is a great
finish and she's done quite well. I haven't really played
against her a lot. Obviously, she's so young, has a
bright future. Savannah McCaskill obviously, you know, makes waves in
LA and she's super fun to watch and growing up
(07:16):
with her, and she's just really evolved through her career
as a pro to, so she's really exciting. Obviously, Trinity
Rodman's lightning fast. Lynn Williams is so clinical and you know,
I mean I could go on and on. It's really
really fun to play against all of them though. They all,
I mean, every four in this league brings something so
different and you really have to pay attention to everybody's
(07:39):
characteristics because there you can't you can't really compare one
to the other.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
They're all so different, which is so cool in this league.
Speaker 5 (07:46):
Yeah, so you study those individuals before you probably face
them on the weekend.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
I do my best.
Speaker 4 (07:52):
I certainly don't cover all the bases, but you know,
everyone brings out a little bit of flair that you
can ever predict, right, and.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
That's the cool thing about our sport.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
But really just the forward line and any any attacking player,
their mindset is just so creative and it's not really
you know, we don't really have that creative flare.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
In the back. You know, it's always keep it safe,
keeping simple. But I'll do you right, Yeah, if you
make if you make one mistake, you're done.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
Though, so I do my best to study them, but
you know, sometimes it doesn't really play in my favor.
Speaker 5 (08:25):
Well, you've also been incredible at penalties, right, so what
is the skill there? Obviously you do your homework, but
what is the skill that you have any that allows
you to be so exceptional?
Speaker 3 (08:36):
I think just.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
From such a young age, I was told I don't
know if it's true or not, but I was told that,
you know, the player has some wildly large percentage to
make it right and I have a really small percentage
to save it. And I've kind of just stuck with
that my whole life. And I'm hoping it's true because
I keep telling people that. But I think for me,
like when I when the when a penalty is called
(08:58):
or you're in a shootout, it's kind of like, well,
I literally have nothing to lose. I'm supposed to fail.
I'm not supposed to say this. So at that moment,
my mind just switches in It's like, well, here we go.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
I mean, what what.
Speaker 4 (09:10):
Could literally go worse? I mean we're either going to
get scored on or or not. And so for me,
it really just calms my nerves. And then you know,
it's almost like I just take a big deep breath
and I kind of just like step into my office
and I'm like, okay, here I am for a business meeting,
you know, like let's get it going.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
And uh, that's just my approach.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
I mean I do it every every time, whether it's
the run of player a shootout, and it just keeps
me really calm, and you know, I guess fortunately it's
worked out a little bit in my favor.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
But you know, they're tough. They are quite hard to save.
Speaker 5 (09:42):
To be here, we got to get you your own
podcast called Step into my Office.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
That is so good. Now you got to start a
little snack talking every time the penalties. Yeah, welcome to
my office. Yeah, what are you particular?
Speaker 5 (09:56):
And you've talked about the mental game that you're now
evolving in from a goalkeeper stamp point. What else are
you now trying to layer on top of that new
piece of your game?
Speaker 4 (10:06):
I think now I really want to just expand, you know,
kind of globally and what the women's game is, you know,
kind of providing and also evolving towards I know, our league. Obviously,
people say it's super transitional, it's really fast and physical,
which it certainly is, but then other leagues around the
world are different, which is great, but you don't really
(10:29):
see the leagues really mixing all that much yet in
the styles. And so for me, I really would love
to study players out of our league, and not that
you know, I shouldn't really focus all that much because
if they're not in our league, I'm not going to
face them. But it's interesting because I do wonder, you know,
which league is going to kind of trend first. And
that's kind of the cool thing about soccers. When even
(10:51):
the men's game, something trends, and whether it's a formation
or a style play, something will trend and then people
will follow, and I wonder which league and the women's
game is god a trend first, and you know, if
someone else trends first, I kind of want to be
on top of it. So I think I do kind
of want to start really watching women's soccer outside of
our league a bit more and see if I can
(11:13):
pick up different patterns from their leagues and you know,
their styles, and see if it could apply.
Speaker 5 (11:17):
And the end to besell, Yeah, that's actually really fascinating.
The macro perspective for a goalkeeper. Talking to Kailan Sheridan
the other day she mentioned how she wants to evolve. Yes,
we've seen goalkeepers play out of the back, you know,
because Pep started that, I would say, what ten years
ago or so, But there's another level in goalkeeper's ability
to actually influence the offensive side of the game.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
Do you feel that way.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
Yeah, I mean I've I think that's been a huge
strong suit of mine. Obviously Kaylen's that's her bread and butter,
and you know, that's definitely a huge trend. But you
kind of saw it first in the men's game, and
now it's really hitting the women's game, and you know,
hats off to Kailin she's kind of really started that
trend the women's side internationally as well.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
So I think it's a huge, huge part of the
women's game now.
Speaker 4 (12:06):
I mean, any kid playing who's you know, ten and app,
I mean they got to be able to play with
their feet and be able to paying balls left front
and center to really start the attack because it's such
an important piece and you can clean up stuff behind
the back line where your defenders don't have to run
sixty more yards and simple stuff like that. But I
do think we're essentially like the eleventh field player now,
whereas before we were kind of just thrown back there
(12:28):
and kind.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
Of just hope you make it, hope you make the save.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Right.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
So yeah, it's definitely definitely a huge trend right now,
and I hope it stays that way.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
It's really fun to play.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
High like that, talk about hoping to make the save.
I'm always fascinated by this. Goalkeepers.
Speaker 5 (12:41):
Of course you want less shots, less shots, better outcomes,
right that your face. But do you actually thrive in
chaos when you're just getting peppered by moments or do
you prefer to be able to be set, make your
read and try to make your save.
Speaker 4 (12:55):
I mean, personally, I don't want the chaos, but chaos
does occur all the time, right you know. I think
if you're controlled in the chaos, then to me, it's
not really chaos. And you know, Houston, we've had tons
of chaotic moments, you know.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
I think we all can.
Speaker 4 (13:13):
We all can say that, and which is great, but
it's really challenged us. And I think in those moments,
if we're all communicating and on the same page, then
the chaos kind of just goes away, even though it
probably looks chaotic from the outside. So for me, you know,
whatever comes my way in the game, I'm gonna we're
gonna have to deal with it, right, But chaos can
be fun obviously for the entertainment, but I'm sure everyone
(13:36):
would prefer less chaos.
Speaker 5 (13:39):
Well, let's talk about Houston because you guys, you know,
you had a high of winning a Challenge Cup, but
you also haven't been as consistent as a club. I
would say season to season as you would probably anticipate
or like, you know, from the inside, what is it
going to take for you guys to get Houston moving
up that that ladder and back in playoff contention next season?
Speaker 4 (14:00):
I think, just for me, my one thing would probably
just be like stability. We've got to be able to
maintain the core of players and build off the core
whoever the core may be, right, whoever the coach decides,
And I hope we get a coach that you know,
will stick around for years to come and really build
whatever they envision.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
This club to be.
Speaker 4 (14:20):
And you know, I don't think you can build any
business without stability.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
So that would be my first thing.
Speaker 4 (14:27):
And you know, Houston, I'll say it loud enough for
the people in the back It's an amazing city. And
you know, this club has so much potential, and I
think from the outside it gets a bad rep for
some reason, probably because the heat. But you know, when
everyone comes here, they love it. And our locker room
is an incredible locker room, and.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
There's just so much potential here and I know we
can do really great things.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
What do you love about Houston?
Speaker 3 (14:52):
Oh, the food is great.
Speaker 4 (14:54):
I have to say that the weather doesn't bug me,
just being from Atlanta, so being hot and stuff isn't
too bad.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
But I love the food.
Speaker 4 (15:01):
That people are just so welcoming and it's so diverse,
and you can go anywhere in the city and find
any sort of person, any sort of food, and I
think that's just really really cool. You don't really have
it in any other city in the world right now,
or at least in our country, not the world.
Speaker 5 (15:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
No, I love Houston when I've been able to visit.
It's been a while though. Can you tell me all
about the tats your sleeves?
Speaker 4 (15:23):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Yeah, yes, I really want to know.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
We might need to edit it for my mother, but.
Speaker 4 (15:29):
Yeah, my sleeve I got it when I was I
think it was my twenty first or maybe eighteenth birthday
present to myself. I told my parents that when I
was really young that I was going to get a
bunch of tattoos, and I don't think they really believed me,
but I did, and I coached when I was in
college and saved up all this cash and you know,
got myself a sleeve. But the whole sleeve is actually
(15:50):
dedicated to my family. Everything on it is for my brother,
my mom, or my dad, and a couple things are
for myself, but most of it's for my family. There's
flowers on there for each person, and a couple thanks
for my brother, and let's.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
See the state of Georgia, and a couple quotes. So yeah,
it's all for my family.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
And your parents come to every match? Do they? Not?
Speaker 4 (16:13):
Not every, but they do try and make it out
to at least a few of the home games, which
has been great. They always make it to Orlando because
it's a quick My mom likes to drive there, so
they go to Orlando. And then they always try and
go to North Carolina because again it's a quick trip
for them driving, even though they could probably fly make
it quicker. But yeah, they try and come out as
much as they can.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
I remember seeing them at the Stanford games.
Speaker 5 (16:36):
Oh.
Speaker 4 (16:36):
Yeah, they loved coming to Stanford. They were like, the
weather out here is perfect. You know, everything's great out here.
And I was like, well, you might as well just
move on out then, Hey, we'll take more, come on,
we'll take it.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
Yeah, Jane would love to know.
Speaker 5 (16:50):
What your priceless moment would be from the twenty twenty
three season.
Speaker 4 (16:54):
My priceless moment from the twenty twenty three season was
when I believe we eight shutouts and that was a Dash.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
Record or it tied a Dash record. I can't actually
remember what game it was.
Speaker 4 (17:07):
It might have been Louisville away, but it was towards
the end of the year. And I think that moment
just for the year. I think it really just told
us how good we were defensively, and that just meant
to me that we were a really hard team to beat,
and I.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
Thought it was really cool. I mean, we didn't reach
our goal.
Speaker 4 (17:27):
Our goal at the beginning of the year was se
to get ten shoutouts this season, and I know we
fell short, but to tie the Dash record for so
many seasons, I think it really just proved to us
that all the work we put in defensively this year
really paid off, and obviously we wish we could have
gotten ten, but there's always next year. But I think
that game, we really all kind of came together and
(17:47):
we were like, Wow, we were pretty good this year defensively,
and I think we're all.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Really proud of that.
Speaker 3 (17:51):
So that would be my priceless moment for twenty twenty three.
Speaker 5 (17:54):
Congratulations because I know that as a goalkeeper you take
a ton of pride in shutouts, but you gave a
lot of respect to your back line for helping you
and achieving that feat. Yeah, regardless, you are the leader
of that back line and it's been fun to watch
you this season and watch you grow, so I know
more exciting stuff to come from you in the future.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
Congratulations again, Jane, Thank you so much.
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