Brianna Wolfson: Williams’ Go-to-Gal

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So tell me, What do you think is way cooler than a Purple Cow? Don’t know the answer? Well, the fact that it is a school mascot is the answer to this question. Williams College, the home of the Purple Cows, is ranked one of the top liberal arts school in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. But academics isn’t the only thing that this DIII school is good at, they also do very well in sports and one of these sports is Women’s College Soccer. Now, you might say why do I think this school’s team has talent? well when players like Junior Brianna Wolfson have 11 goals and 9 assists in the season I think they speak for themselves. This New Yorker had a great 2008 Fall Season and was selected, along with teammates Gabrielle Woodson, Caitlin Colesanti, Lauren Sinnenberg and Sara Wild, First Team All-New England for Div. III by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas. But she wasn’t selected once but TWICE along side 4 out of the 5 teammates selected for this honor. Because of her great accomplishments last season, Wolfson is the all-time leader in assists with 21 assists after only playing at Williams for 3 Years! She clearly will set a high marker for this achievement for others to try beat in the future. Wolfson has played 542 of 54 games in her career starting in 46 of them and compiled a total of 63 points with 26 goals and 21 assists. With the help of her teammates, Brianna Wolfson and her teammates were able to get back to back NESCAC Titles (2007 & 2008), go to the NCAA Tourney, and received the Little Three Titles, which they haven’t gotten since 2002.
I was able to get in touch with Brianna and have an interview with her; View Below.

MessGirl-How does it feel to be one of the top producers on your team with 11 goals and 9 assists?
Brianna Wolfson-It feels great to be recognized as a prominent individual contributor but I cannot take all the credit for these statistics. Every goal is a team effort and I must give credit to all of my teammates for this accomplishment, as the team holds the conference record for both goals and assists this past season. I guess I am just lucky to be the one playing up top!

MessGirl- For the 2008 fall Season, You guys got to the semifinals of the 2008 NCAA DIII WOMEN’S SOCCER tournament. You guys lost to Wheaton (3-1). What are somethings you think your team should improve on so next year you will get to that #1 spot for DIII.
Brianna Wolfson-It was the most incredible feeling for me and my teammates to be on the stage for the first time in North Carolina this year? but also very intimidating. Williams Women?s Soccer is a program that has really grown in the past four years and we were excited to just be playing at the highest level. I am looking forward to playing with a team who knows what to expect on the national stage and is hungrier than ever to win!

Messgirl-In the past 5 years, either Wheaton or Messiah have won the NCAA tournament to become #1 in DIII. What are somethings as a team you guys will do next season so you guys can win the NCAA Tournament?
Brianna Wolfson-As I said before, it is a bit overwhelming to be playing on the national stage for the first time, and I think that is a feeling that Messiah and Wheaton have grown accustomed to as part of a historically winning program. I think that our team is a match for anybody, but we need to prepare ourselves to be playing at the highest level? and allow ourselves to enjoy the experience instead of getting nervous!

MessGirl-What are some of your future goals?
Brianna Wolfson-My future goals are uncertain at this point. I am a psychology and art history major at Williams, and hope to do something that incorporates both. I am also confident that soccer is going to be a part of my life forever. I look forward to coaching in the future, but I am not sure at what level.?

MessGirl-Why did you choose to play in DIII?
Brianna Wolfson-I love the Division III attitude. Because there are no scholarships, a lot of the politics that are associated with soccer growing up just disappear. Division III is full of athletes that just love the game, pure and simple. Division III also allows me to lead a more balanced life. I have enough time to pursue (a very competitive level) of soccer, but also leave room for my academics and to pursue other interests.

Messgirl-Do you think people underestimate DIII soccer and why?
Brianna Wolfson-I think that people underestimate division III soccer, but only because they do not know much about it. Naturally, one would assume that as you move down in divisions, the skill and competitiveness worsens. This is not the case at all. But I would say that those who know what Division III sports entail are impressed by anyone who is a college athlete, regardless of their division.

MessGirl-Who is your favorite soccer player (woman or man)?
Brianna Wolfson-This may seem like a cop out, but my favorite soccer player is Ronaldinho. Aside from the fact that he is one of the best players in the world, and incredibly skilled and talented, he plays like he loves the game! He is?always?smiling and having fun on the field and anyone can tell when the ball is at his feet, Ronaldinho is full of joy. It is easy for players to lose sight of what they love about soccer in the competitiveness of it all (even I do it sometimes!), but watching Ronaldinho play always reminds me to play for myself and play for fun? because the day I stop loving what I do is the day I should stop playing.

MessGirl- Why did you choose to play soccer at Williams?
Brianna Wolfson-For me, Williams provided me with the perfect balance between athletics and academics. Growing up, I have always been equally committed to my academics and my soccer, and I was not willing to give one up for the other in my college search. The Williams Soccer program allowed me to do both at the highest and most competitive level, and I am so happy with my choice everyday.

MessGirl-How did it feel when you guys won the NESCAC Title?
Brianna Wolfson- I am fairly certain that our win over Amherst in the NESCAC final will go down in history as one of the most epic NESCAC games ever. The Williams/Amherst rivalry runs deep and they had given us trouble earlier in the season, and it is always a rush to meet up against your greatest competitor in the finals when the stakes are high. Watching the ball roll into the back of the net in overtime was definitely a soccer highlight and a moment I will never forget.

MessGirl-What makes your team so special?
Brianna Wolfson-Easy? team chemistry. And not just on the field? off the field too. It is an amazing feeling to get on the field and just click with the players around you. Our coach is always telling us that we have to play with our heads up and eyes scanning the field. Most days, I feel like I don?t even have to. I really believe that I can know where my teammates are going, even with my eyes closed! Since we carry our amazing team chemistry off the field, we are very open with each other ways that we can improve as individuals and as a team.

MessGirl-What are somethings you guys like to do outside of soccer?
Brianna Wolfson-The second we step off the field, we are a group of 25 best friends. We like to just hang out and talk or share funny stories. The bus rides to games are always a blast! We also make it a team priority to volunteer around the community.

MessGirl-What do you think are the benefits for playing at Williams?
Brianna Wolfson-I love playing with a group of really bright and well-rounded people, not just players. It is part of the Williams Soccer philosophy that we make time in our lives to pursue all of the things we love, not just soccer. At Williams, I have the perfect balance of athletics and academics, and have time to pursue some of my other interests (working with local museums or volunteering, for example).

MessGirl-How does it feel to be named First Team All-New England for Div. III by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas for the second consecutive time?
Brianna Wolfson-Throughout the course of the season, I come up against some amazingly talented players? and I am always surprised to see my name come up on that list at the end of the year. However, it is such a great honor to be considered a top player in the division (and that I?m still improving every year!). But once again, I have to give credit to my entire team for not only pushing me to reach this level, but also putting me in a position to earn these honors by playing some amazing soccer themselves.

Now that is what a great player does; they are able to juggle all their priorities and can still play very well on the field. Writers at boxofmess.com say thanks to Brianna for doing the interview with us and we will cheer her on and check on her for her 2009 Fall Season; Senior Year.

Note- All interviews are done through Facebook/Myspace/Email/Text/Call. All people are REAL. No fakes here!
photo thanks to http://williams.prestosports.com/images/wsoc/2007/Game_File_Photos/wskeenest.jpg

Info thanks to Williams College athletic website. More info on Brianna W. and the team, Go to Williams Athletic Site

MessGirl