University of Minnesota Athletics
LIZ WAGNER'S WINNING WAYS
9/27/1999 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Liz Wagner cherishes her soccer memories, and she's ready to make more. She'll quickly tell you she loved her Colorado Rush club team that won the Under-17 national title last summer and that winning the championship is one of the best moments of her soccer career. She's proud of the fact that 15 players from that squad are now playing in NCAA Division I soccer programs across the nation.
The serious-minded, yet very personable Wagner also reflects back on the final game of her high school career as a snapshot of life she will always remember. Wagner scored the winning goal in leading her Green Mountain High School team to the Colorado state title. It was a match watched by the nation, if not the world. As the ESPN and CNN cameras rolled, Green Mountain defeated Columbine High School of Littleton, just weeks after Columbine's tragedy.
With the memories of her biggest soccer accomplishments still fresh in her mind, Wagner now embarks on a new adventure. And she's looking for success to follow her into her career as a member of the Minnesota Golden Gopher soccer team.
"Our team goal? We want to win the Big Ten," says Wagner without one second of hesitation. "Our goals are on our locker room wall. We're extremely dedicated to seeing it happen."
Wagner is used to achieving her goals. Another goal heading into her collegiate playing career, and one with a check already beside it, was to start for the Gophers.
"Liz is a very talented player who earned her starting spot with hard work both offensively and defensively," said Gopher head coach Sue Montagne. "She's a 90-minute player."
"I was prepared to work hard," Wagner says. "My high school and club coaches helped me get ready off for all this. Still, it is a totally new experience."
In addition to building ties with her new team, Wagner also has been asked to play a number of different positions on the field. She's seen action at forward but has seemingly settled into an outside midfielder position in the Gopher lineup.
"Our midfielders play a bit differently than what Liz was used to," said Montagne. "There is a learning curve there but she's doing well. She takes her soccer playing very seriously."
Wagner admits she has a way to go before she feels completely comfortable with her new role with the Gophers. "Playing outside mid is a lot of work. Endurance is key because you're playing offense and defense, from one side of the field to the other, and for the entire length of the field.
"I'm thinking about a million things at once out there. I just need to relax. I've been playing soccer since I was 4 years old, I need to just play."
Montagne agrees, noting that her rookie midfielder is sometimes too hard on herself. "Liz is at her best when she's out there on the field having fun," says Montagne. "She can serve a great ball across, whether it's in the air or to the top of the 6-yard box on the ground. She can create good scoring opportunities for herself and others."
Wagner has excelled in her world of soccer. She grabs hold of her goals with a vengeance and works hard to make them reality. She's approaching her challenges as a first-year collegiate soccer player in the same manner.
"Right now I want to play consistently and be the best I can be in every game," said Wagner. "I want to make every practice count and be ready to play every time I put my cleats on."
The book of her Gopher career is in the opening chapter. It's a good bet this novel has a successful and happy ending.
- written by Becky Bohm
Sports Information Director
