Newcomer Spotlight: Maddie Baker

TOUCH & GO

Favorite hobby: art, drawing, sculpting
Favorite musical artist: Ne-Yo, Juice WRLD
Favorite movie: Cool Runnings
Favorite pro team: USA Women's National Team
Favorite athlete: Abby Wambach
Favorite meal: buttered noodles
Hidden talent: impersonations
Impractical fear: the dark
Dream vacation spot: Jamaica
Sport you'd like to try: water polo

With the start of the fall semester inching closer, Gopher Sports is sitting down with this year's newcomers on the Minnesota women's soccer team. The Gophers welcome six incoming freshmen to the fold this season, featuring players hailing from the Midwest to the Southeast.

Leading things off is forward Maddie Baker of West Bend, Wis. While competing for the North Shore United Soccer Club, Baker also played basketball, volleyball and track & field at West Bend West High School. From 2018-19, Baker helped power North Shore United to a pair of U.S. Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Championships and was named to the Best XI of the USYS Championships both years. Baker also brought home the Golden Boot Award at the 2018 USYS Midwest Regional.

GopherSports: Why did you choose the University of Minnesota?
Baker: "My first visit to the 'U' actually, I was greeted right away with open arms by not just the coaches, but teammates, staff, everyone involved – made me feel like I was at home. The amount of support you had behind you just kind of made me feel comfortable and made me feel instantly like this was the place I wanted to be. Right away, the city was beautiful and the culture within the team was something I wanted to be a part of."

GS: When did you first start playing soccer and when did you know that you wanted to compete collegiately?
Baker: "I started when I was around five. None of my parents played soccer, so it was kind of a sport not many of my family members knew what they were doing. My first soccer coach definitely played a big part in me wanting to play collegiately and that was around twelve years old. I knew that I loved playing soccer. It didn't matter how, or where I was, or what I was doing at the time. I always found that my inner-kid was in soccer. That made me want to play it all the time."

GS: How did you manage the demands of so many different sports and what do you feel is the benefit of not specializing in just one?
Baker: "A lot of the coaches I played for were very flexible. They were very willing to work with me. You take a little from each, you work your hardest and when you're at that practice, you give your full effort. That was all they were looking for. It was easier to make them happy knowing that you worked your hardest and you gave everything you had. That was a big part of how I learned to not just be a teammate on the soccer field, but overall a better person within life. Sports has taught me a lot about character and how to approach many different situations. Being involved in sports made it easier to accept a lot of things life can throw at you."

GS: What would you say is your biggest strength as a player?
Baker: "I think a lot of it is just teamwork. Most of mine is finding personalities on the team and without your team, it's hard to play the game of soccer. I think having a good relationship with each individual player and knowing each individual's strengths and their weaknesses, and being able to adapt to each other's strengths and weaknesses… just makes those strengths even greater. A lot of it is team connectedness for me. I think that's a big part of what makes me a better athlete."

GS: What is one thing you're hoping to improve this year?
Baker: "More of my self-confidence. I'm such a team player that sometimes I forget that I can be a little more selfish with the ball. A lot of it is that I want great things for teammates and not only teammates, but coaches."

GS: What is the most memorable moment of your soccer career so far?
Baker: "I think all of the little ones make you love the sport more. It's not even one big championship. It's all the games you win to lead up to those championships. Even spending time with your teammates in the hotel room or whatever you're doing, I think all of those make one big impact on a player and their perspective of the game."

GS: Do you have any pre-game rituals or superstitions?
Baker: "Most of it is more mental. I think of all the people that have gotten me to the spot that I am. Being grateful that I'm in this position and not taking what I have for granted. Being mindful of who has gotten me here, and a lot of it is my family. My parents. The people who support me every day and who I would say I dedicate my game to. Everyone that is involved with what I've done and how I got to that stage."

GS: Who has been your biggest mentor or inspiration throughout your career?
Baker: "I look up to my parents a lot, but also my grandma. She's been a very impactful person in my life. My parents also have given me every opportunity that I can have to get to this position. Without them and without their support, I wouldn't be here. Those three are big, important people that I look up to on a daily basis."

GS: What are your goals as Gopher Soccer player?
Baker: "Winning the NCAA Tournament is a big goal for me. Not just as an individual, but for the team to have that. But every win as a Gopher is a big win, just being able to have a great couple of seasons for the Gophers. Looking at the big picture, winning the NCAA Tournament, but also focusing on every game we have."

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Players Mentioned

Rylan Baker