University of Minnesota Athletics
NICOLE LEE IS DRAWING ATTENTION
9/27/1999 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Opposing teams are more than aware of how talented the Golden Gopher with the number two, her number since she was 8 years old, is on the field. Watch Lee during the match and you will see a swarming group of defenders shadowing her every move.
"She's drawing more defenders than she ever has before," said Minnesota head coach Sue Montagne. "When Nicole has the ball and her back to the goal, defenders having been fouling the heck out of her."
Lee is third on the Minnesota career goals scored list with 39, yet only two winners have found the back of the net this season. Her past success on the soccer field has garnered the defenses' attention.
"Nicole is definitely not a secret in the Big Ten, so she's not getting as good of looks at the goal anymore," adds Montagne. "No one is going to leave her one versus one. If she has her back to the goal, don't let her turn, because once you do let Nicole Lee turn, she's extremely dangerous."
Montagne has done more than notice the attention her veteran forward is attracting, she finding ways to capitalize on it. The most significant change was a position switch, moving sophomore Alison Rackley to forward and first-year Liz Wagner to outside midfielder. The result has been a more diverse offense and one that's providing everyone with better scoring opportunities.
Lee is pleased with having Rackley join her and junior Laurie Seidl in the Gophers' front line of attack. "I think the chemistry is great between the three of us," said Lee.
A two-time All-Big Ten performer, Lee won't be forgotten by the Iowa Hawkeyes any time soon. Lee scored one of the most dramatic goals in Minnesota history to give the Gophers a 2-1 victory in Iowa City a week ago.
With the clock running out in the second overtime period and the crowd counting down the final seconds of the match, Lee nudged the ball into the Hawkeye goal with just four seconds left to play. What seemingly was a tie match was now a victory, enabling the Gophers to escape the first weekend of Big Ten play with a 1-1 record.
Here is Lee's account of the winning action: "Megan Johnson crossed the ball and Rackley went up for a header with an Iowa player. The ball was headed in my direction. I trapped it. My back was to the goal but I knew where it was. As soon as the ball fell to my feet, I just knocked it with the outside of my foot toward the goal and it just crawled in.
"The goal was in very slow motion," added Lee. "I had enough time to think, `that's not going to go in,' but it did.
"How I would describe the goal?" asks Lee. "Truthfully, it was luck. A prayer."
The Iowa match wasn't the first time Lee has answered the call in crunch time. In fact, her 11 career game-winning goals are the third-best total in Minnesota soccer history. Within a two-week span in October 1997, Lee tallied dramatic goals to help Minnesota to the Big Ten Conference title. Lee's goal in the 115th minute was the difference in the Gophers' 4-3 defeat of Michigan. Fourteen days later, Lee scored the tying goal with under two minutes left in regulation against Penn State that Minnesota won 4-3 in overtime.
Goals like these obviously draw the interest and attention of the media and fans alike. Still, Lee is as excited about being interviewed as she is about going to the dentist or studying for final exams.
But, there is a scenario where Lee doesn't mind the attention: playing in the Gophers' new stadium, the Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium.
"The first game in the stadium with that record crowd, that was incredible," says Lee. "The atmosphere was like a post-season game, not regular season. It gets you excited and more hyped up. The stadium's awesome. I love it."
All in all, Nicole Lee has learned attention comes with the territory of her status in Minnesota soccer history. Putting all the goals aside, Lee wants nothing more than for her team to succeed. On her priority list are winning another Big Ten championship and playing deep into the NCAA Tournament in her final season.
She analyzes her career in this way: "I think I've progressed every year and I've had a lot of fun. I've grown a lot as a person and as a player during the past four years."
Someday, just maybe, Nicole Lee will look back at her soccer career at Minnesota and appreciate the attention bestowed upon her. After all, it was well earned.
written by Becky Bohm
Sports Information Director
