Lancaster role model for new team

Christina Garza

Issue date: 10/8/07 Section: Sports

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Media Credit: Chris Vivero

Krista Lancaster, midfield

Leading with a quiet aggressiveness is only half of what makes Krista Lancaster, English freshman, a vital player to the Brookhaven College women's soccer team.

"Krista leads by example and has an overall desire to play, which can be seen from every angle on the field," Carlton Cooper, head coach of the women's soccer team, said.

Lancaster said she is flattered to be thought of as a role model for the other women but believes everyone on the team looks up to the others.

"There are so many things we can learn from each other, to say that everyone looks up to or is led by one person is wrong," Lancaster said. "We are a team and work as a team to improve ourselves for the betterment of the team."

Lancaster started playing soccer at the age of 5. Growing up in Rockwall, Texas, with her family involved in soccer has helped her learn self-discipline and good work ethic.

"I had a great support team," Lancaster said. "My parents, cousins and even aunt played soccer. They have taught me a lot about the game and what it really means to be on a team."

After finishing at Brookhaven, Lancaster plans to attend Southern Methodist University. She said she hopes to play for the women's soccer team at SMU too. She said she wants to major in English and plans to be a teacher.

SMU requires a certain grade point average for admittance, so Lancaster understands she is a student first. She said she gets frustrated when her life gets so busy that her grades start to suffer. But she admits she would not change it for the world.

"I have always loved playing soccer since the beginning and although I do get extremely busy at times I know that it is only temporary," Lancaster said.

The first win of the season was exciting for Lancaster, but she realizes how hard her team has to work now to continue a winning streak.

"Just because we have won one game does not mean it should go to our head," Lancaster said. "We have to remember that there are much harder teams that we must play against and have to be in the right mind-set to do so."

Lancaster also encourages everyone to come out and support the soccer team at their games, which are held on the soccer fields next to the tennis courts. The game schedule can be found on Brookhaven's Web site.

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