University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
Goalkeeper
/ Soccer
Get to Know the Gophers: Maddie Nielsen
7/28/2018 1:45:00 PM | Soccer
As the University of Minnesota soccer team gears up for another season, GopherSports.com sat down with each player on the 2018 team to get to know them better on and off the field!
Maddie Nielsen was the next to sit down with GopherSports.com to get to know her more on and off the field!
GopherSports.com: What are your summer plans? Internship? Travel? Playing Soccer? ANYTHING!
Maddie Nielsen: I went to Ultimate Training Camp for a week in May and then headed home to Shoreline, Washington in June where I will be playing soccer with the Seattle Stars for that month. I'll head back to Minnesota mid-July to work out and practice with my teammates before pre-season starts.
GS: Heading out of school for a few months, what do you like to do with your free time? Hobbies? Interests?
MN: I like Hanging out with my friends, family, my dogs, go swimming, go boating, go up to my cabin, go hiking, watch movies and play other sports.
GS: How did you begin playing soccer? What sparked your interest as a child?
MN: My mom and dad grew up playing soccer too, so when I was younger they signed me up and my mom was my first coach.
GS: What other positions have you played in the past? For instance… if you were a goal scorer in high school, and you are not now, what has that position change been like? Or vice versa…
MN: For a long time, I was a forward and then one year one of my soccer teams needed a goalie so I tried it out and ended up liking it. I played half the game at forward and half the game as goalie for a long time and then stuck with goalie. I sometimes still played forward throughout high school.
GS: What kind of person would you describe yourself as? What kind of player would you describe yourself as?
MN: Someone who always has a smile on their face and loves to be around people. I am a coachable player that works hard.
GS: Have you played other sports in your life?
MN: Yes. Basketball and Track and Field
GS: Is there a story behind your number you have in college? What about what you had in high school?
MN: Nope
GS: What made you choose to come to the University of Minnesota? What does it mean to be a Gopher to you?
MN: I chose Minnesota because when I visited it just felt like another home away from home. The coaches and players were super welcoming and made me feel a part of the team right from the start. Not only were all the people in Minnesota amazing but the campus was too!
GS: What is your favorite part about playing soccer here?
MN: The competitive environment my teammates have on the field, and then when were off the field, all the fun we have together.
Quick Hits
Favorite Soccer player? Favorite Professional athlete? Clint Dempsey
Favorite food/meal? Avocados :)
Favorite Sport besides soccer? Basketball
Favorite place you have traveled to? Spain
Favorite color? yellow
Favorite animal? elephant
Maddie Nielsen was the next to sit down with GopherSports.com to get to know her more on and off the field!
GopherSports.com: What are your summer plans? Internship? Travel? Playing Soccer? ANYTHING!
Maddie Nielsen: I went to Ultimate Training Camp for a week in May and then headed home to Shoreline, Washington in June where I will be playing soccer with the Seattle Stars for that month. I'll head back to Minnesota mid-July to work out and practice with my teammates before pre-season starts.
GS: Heading out of school for a few months, what do you like to do with your free time? Hobbies? Interests?
MN: I like Hanging out with my friends, family, my dogs, go swimming, go boating, go up to my cabin, go hiking, watch movies and play other sports.
GS: How did you begin playing soccer? What sparked your interest as a child?
MN: My mom and dad grew up playing soccer too, so when I was younger they signed me up and my mom was my first coach.
GS: What other positions have you played in the past? For instance… if you were a goal scorer in high school, and you are not now, what has that position change been like? Or vice versa…
MN: For a long time, I was a forward and then one year one of my soccer teams needed a goalie so I tried it out and ended up liking it. I played half the game at forward and half the game as goalie for a long time and then stuck with goalie. I sometimes still played forward throughout high school.
GS: What kind of person would you describe yourself as? What kind of player would you describe yourself as?
MN: Someone who always has a smile on their face and loves to be around people. I am a coachable player that works hard.
GS: Have you played other sports in your life?
MN: Yes. Basketball and Track and Field
GS: Is there a story behind your number you have in college? What about what you had in high school?
MN: Nope
GS: What made you choose to come to the University of Minnesota? What does it mean to be a Gopher to you?
MN: I chose Minnesota because when I visited it just felt like another home away from home. The coaches and players were super welcoming and made me feel a part of the team right from the start. Not only were all the people in Minnesota amazing but the campus was too!
GS: What is your favorite part about playing soccer here?
MN: The competitive environment my teammates have on the field, and then when were off the field, all the fun we have together.
Quick Hits
Favorite Soccer player? Favorite Professional athlete? Clint Dempsey
Favorite food/meal? Avocados :)
Favorite Sport besides soccer? Basketball
Favorite place you have traveled to? Spain
Favorite color? yellow
Favorite animal? elephant
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