Yael Averbuch: The Top Tar Heel

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UNC has always been a top competitor for Women’s Soccer. In the Fall of 2008, the team won the Championship Title, beating Notre Dame, for the 19th time. UNC breeds and receives the top athletes in the nation. One of the athletes is Yael Averbuch. Yael Averbuch (quoted from tarheelblue.com) is “one of the nation’s premier college players”. Even though Yael is a senior and will be graduating, she has definitely left her presence on the Tarheel field and will always be remembered as a key player on UNC Women’s Soccer Team. Throughout her career Yael has been selected for first-team All-ACC and All-ACC Tournament selection, named the ACC’s Offensive Player of the Year, ACC Women’s Soccer Scholar Athlete of the Year and the past summer she has played on the U.S. U23 National Team and won the Nordic Cup championship. From 2005-2007 Yael has had 26 goals and 20 assists making her one of the top producing players on the UNC team. No matter where you watch her, no matter who she plays Yael Averbuch always gives her best performance.

Below is an interview I had with this skillful player.

MessGirl-How does it feel to be ?inducted into the Order of the Golden Fleece, the University’s oldest and highest honorary society?
Yael Averbuch-It is such a huge honor for me to be recognized as some one who has impacted the University so strongly. I came to UNC with pretty much only soccer on my mind, and soon learned that it is such a special place with so much more to offer. Being inducted into the Order of the Golden Fleece is very special to me considering how many wonderful people are a part of the University.

MessGirl-As a Senior, Do you feel like you went out with a “boom” winning the championship title the 19th time for UNC against Notre Dame?
Yael Averbuch-I couldn’t have asked for a better ending to my senior year and 4 years at UNC. I really enjoyed my senior season and would have been happy with or without a National Championship, but to be a part of leading my team to that championship is something I’ll never forget.

MessGirl-What are some of your future goals?
Yael Averbuch-I want to play professional soccer for many years and eventually play for the U.S. Women’s National team in a Women’s World Cup and Olympics.

MessGirl-As a Midfielder what are your strengths? and what aspect of the game would you like to improve on?
Yael Averbuch-I see my strengths as having the ability to connect all parts of the field and playmake. I have good technique and ball control and I like to create things with the ball at my feet. I would like to improve on my ball winning, both in the air and on the ground and my defensive presence in general.

MessGirl-Now that you are graduating,will you continue to cheer on UNC, cheer on your younger sister, Shira, and hope that Stanford will win a Championship game soon or both?
Yael Averbuch-That’s a hard one! I think I’ll always be a UNC fan, but my sister is my best friend and training partner so I want to see her be successful as well. So I guess I’d have to say both!

MessGirl-Who inspired you to play soccer?
Yael Averbuch-My family was always very athletic but it was actually my best friend in second grade who got me into soccer. I went to watch one of her?games and it looked like fun so I signed up for the next season. The fact that both of my parents are athletes and very supportive was also a huge factor.

MessGirl-Who is your favorite soccer player (woman or man)?
Yael Averbuch-I’d have to say Zidane. He just made the game look so easy and effortless, while producing magic on the field.

MessGirl-What will you take out from your experience at UNC into the “Real World”?
Yael Averbuch-I think my experience at UNC allowed me to meet some truly extraordinary people who really shaped my outlook on life, far beyond soccer. I learned a lot about how to deal with adversity, pressure, and how to be successful both on and off the field. The main thing I’ll take away from my experience at UNC, though, are the wonderful relationships I made.

MessGirl-What was your favorite moment while at UNC?
Yael Averbuch-In 2006, we dedicated our season to Kelly Muldoon, an 11 year old girl with cancer. By the final four, she was really sick, but made the trip from Florida to be at our games. When we were able to hand her the championship trophy, that was by far my favorite moment.

MessGirl-What do you think makes your team special and different from any other college team around?
Yael Averbuch-I think that our team has a really unique mixture of hard work, intensity, and competitiveness and a fun-loving attitude. The atmosphere at training and games has such a wonderful balance of that winning mentality and sense of humor.

MessGirl-Which teammate do you enjoy playing with the most and why?
Yael Averbuch-I really enjoy playing with Ali Hawkins. We played in the middle of midfield together and were co-captains for my senior year. She is an extremely hard-working, smart, skillful player and a really good?friend.

Even though this chapter must come to an end for her along with the memories and great moments of UNC, a new chapter appears and we expect to see great things happening in the future for Yael. We wish Yael good luck! and that we will continue to follow her progress into the “Real World” and can’t wait to watch her more on TV in the future. *news* Yael will be playing in Women’s Professional Soccer here in the U.S. on the Sky ?Blue FC team (NJ team).

Note- All interviews are done through Facebook/Myspace/Call/Text/Email/Etc. All people are REAL. No fakes here!

photo thanks to http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/unc/sports/w-soccer/auto_widephoto/2929722.jpeg
youtube video thanks to youtube user Jnh1001

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Yael also made some history check it out

MessGirl