Sports
Page 11 • Tuesday, October 5, 1999
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Texas A&M senior goalkeeper Melanie Wilson
sets tone for Aggies’ aggressive playing style
IP BEATO/Tiif. Battalion
JfexasMiV) senior goalkeeper Melanie Wilson has established herself as one of the nation’s premier goalkeepers
tgdercareer with the Aggies. In her first three seasons, Wilson had 23 shutouts and 212 saves.
BY JASON LINCOLN
The Battalion
The goalkeeper traditionally is a soccer team’s last
line of defense. The Texas A&M Soccer Team has tak
en the role of goalkeeper to another level as it builds
around the talents of senior Melanie Wilson.
Instead of being content with having a dominant
keeper minding the net, A&M has taken its confi
dence in Wilson one step higher, making her the base
of the Aggies’ style. Wilson's tactics on the field set
up A&M’s attack and regulate its defense.
“We see the goalkeeper as the first line of attack
and last line of defense,” A&M soccer coach and for
mer University of Tulsa goalkeeper G. Guerrieri said.
“They should be involved in everything that hap
pens.”
Wilson has established herself as one of the top
keepers in the nation while amassing statistics in her
first three seasons that rival and exceed many of the
nation’s best goalkeepers. Prior to the 1999 season,
Wilson had 23 shutouts, 212 saves and a 49-15
record.
In this season’s first 12 games, Wilson has al
lowed just six goals for a .42 goal against average
and has 40 saves.
The numbers do not hold nearly as much impor
tance to Aggie soccer as the team’s confidence in her
ability to make the big saves.
“The team knows we have one of the three best
goalkeepers in the United States,” Guerrieri said. “It
allows us to take a few more risks offensively.”
With a team in front of her that has complete con
fidence in her ability, opponents are the only obsta
cle to Wilson’s goal of making every game a shutout.
“I set goals for myself — play hard, always go af
ter every ball, and always go for that shutout,” Wil
son said. “The goal is to keep me working as hard as
I can, because that’s when I play my best.”
The intensity with which Wilson pursues those
goals make her an intimidating figure to opponents.
“She’s an all-out player,” senior midfielder Mandy
Davidson said. “Because she’s so focused, she’ll do
anything to get the ball, and it can be quite intense.”
Wilson said the aggressiveness that characterizes
her play is in sharp contrast to her everyday life.
“I’m a totally different person on game day,” she
said. “I’m very, very intense — both on and off the
field. It is really important to me to make that whole
day about the game.
“I convince myself that no one can get the ball
past me and then I go out and try to make it happen.”
Guerrieri said Wilson’s athletic ability has helped
her become a dominant goalkeeper.
“Because she’s so focused,
she’ll do anything to get
the hall. It can he quite
intense.”
- MANDY DAVIDSON
A&M MIDFIELDER
“Her athleticism, quickness and explosiveness
stood out from the beginning,” he said. “Her
physique is very strong, she has a 24-inch vertical
[leap] and great timing.”
Guerrieri said those characteristics contribute to
her being “one of the best goalkeepers in the air,
worldwide.”
While many keepers are dominant in one aspect
of play and weak in others, if Wilson has any weak
nesses, she has kept them hidden from both oppo
nents and teammates.
“Mel is an overall dominant keeper,” Davidson
said. “She has an amazing jumping ability, yet at the
same time she is very quick and can get down for the
low balls.
“Most goalkeepers have one strength or the oth
er, but she’s got it all.”
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