There are some new things that everyone is expect incoming freshman to deal with: annoying roommates, long walks to find parties and the first time doing laundry. But certainly, being tossed in net as the last line of defense for the UW women's soccer team is not something everyone expects. That certainly was not the case for sophomore standout Lynn Murray last season.
Murray stepped into the net last fall, starting 21 games for the Badgers while posting five shutouts and earning a spot on the Big Ten all-freshman team. Murray attempts this while dealing with her first Wisconsin fall, where it can be 75 degrees one day and a few degrees above freezing the next.
Coming from Marietta, Ga., it is hard to believe that a southern belle would choose to come to Wisconsin, but it turns out that UW had just what Murray was looking for.
\I really loved the coaches. I came on an unofficial visit and met with them, and I really loved them,"" Murray said.""
After only a short amount of time, the love could be considered mutual. It took Murray only five games to earn the starting spot from-then starter-Stefani Szczechowski. Since then, Murray hasn't looked back, posting a 1.07 goals-against average.
Murray began working on her soccer skills at the age of seven, when she saw the boys across the street playing. In the coming years, Murray knew soccer was going to be a part of her future and she began putting more and more focus into the sport. She started playing in Olympic Development Program and became serious about continuing the sport after high school.
As a senior, Murray was named Georgia's Gatorade player of the year, selected to the All-Cobb County team, helped the United Quest Red 85's win the Region III Tournament, and was also a member of the National Honor Society. When Murray joined head coach Dean Duerst and the Badgers, he noticed that she had exactly what they needed in a goalie: presence.
""It's [presence], basically, how they handle themselves in the goal and how they control their area,"" Duerst said. ""It's real important for us, at our level, and Lynn had that coming in.""
When she finally got the nod to start her first game, Duerst gave her a few words of advice.
""I told her, 'just play the game.' Sometimes if you're too tight, you're just not going to perform to your abilities,"" Duerst said.
Throughout the season, Murray kept improving and kept a stranglehold on the goalkeeper position. Entering this season, Murray knew she would be the top dog, and along with that title comes higher expectations.
""We say with all players, there's a lot of room for growth. We've seen that growth over a season, over the summer and now into this fall, and that's our expectation for her now. Wherever she's at, we need to have her at her high level,"" Duerst said.
""Lynn's already worked with them [her teammates] for a year now. The ground work has been laid now, and now it's just a matter of being consistent.""
Entering the Big Toe invitational this weekend, the Badgers find themselves ranked No. 15 in the nation. With two big tests ahead of them (BYU 6-0 and UW-Milwaukee 2-2-2), the Badgers know how important this weekend is.
""We want to get two wins this weekend. The game against Milwaukee is obviously a huge rivalry. In-state is always an important game here. BYU is 6-0 coming into this weekend, which surprised a couple people, so we need to be ready to step up and give them our best game,"" Murray said.
The Badgers know Murray will play a huge role in keeping them in the top 25, though Coach Duerst is quick to point out that it is not a one player team.
""It's a total team effort,"" Duerst said. ""There isn't one player that's bringing us up.""
Through six games the sophomore net-minder has made 25 saves, allowed nine goals, and has posted two shutouts. But that's what's come to be expected when you're the top dog.
