Erin Clark has been a big part of the Huskies' success.

Freshman Forward Off To Great Start

Women's Soccer

By: Mike Northup

Posted: 9/25/07

It's one thing to have success in athletics at the college level by being one of the key players on a team. It's another thing to be able to do that while playing for the same team you grew up cheering for. It takes a really special player to do that as a freshman. That's the case for Somers native and freshman forward Erin Clark, who has already begun to turn heads with her play for the women's soccer team this season.

Clark didn't have to wait long before making a huge impact for the Huskies. In the season opener, Clark was able to end a Princeton streak of 476:14 minutes without allowing a goal, providing the difference-maker in the 1-0 UConn win.

"In the beginning of the year we had kind of like a rough start, and I remember getting angry that this is UConn, this is a team that I've been watching since I was little that was so good, and thought 'We really need to pick this up,'" Clark said. "So I kind of got angry on the sidelines, and when coach put me in I was all ready to go and I took advantage of that one little opportunity I had from Lizzy [Eng], who played me a very nice ball. I just remember shooting it and it worked out."

By the sixth game of the season against Brown, she was promoted to the starting lineup, having already scored the game-winning goal in two matches.

It was a move by head coach Len Tsantiris that surprised her.

"It was definitely exciting," Clark said. "I worked really hard at practice, and coach always says that whoever plays like they want to start in practice are the ones that he's going to start. So that's just my plan, to play hard in practice and get the start."

Clark is tied for second on the team with eight points with three goals (all game-winners) and two assists. The three game-winning goals leave her tied for first in the Big East in that category.

When talking about the season so far, Clark didn't hesitate in crediting her teammates for easing her transition into playing at the college level.

Whether it was playing alongside current Huskies who play for the New England Mutiny in the Women's Premier Soccer League, spending time bonding at teammates' apartments over the summer, or seeing another side of Tsantiris at a preseason team dinner at a Greek restaurant in Maryland, Clark feels as though she has already become extremely close with everyone on the team.

"I feel like I can talk to any senior on the team and get really good advice," Clark said. "They're just so open. Everyone's positive on the field, there's no negative talk. It's just very positive and very easy to talk to other people when you have some problems."

As a starter on the Mutiny, which sports seven current Huskies including Clark, she was able to grow more accustomed to the fast-paced, hard hitting style of play she has encountered in college.

"The speed of play is similar to this and I've been playing with a few of the girls on the team over the summer. Like, I've played with [Meghan] Schnur, played with Karyn [Riviere], I've played with Alex [Zedros] and with TJ [goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe] - basically playing with all of them, and playing at that level, which is similar to the college level, I think really helped me because it gave me a head start almost."

A Preseason Soccer Buzz All-American, Schnur has been a significant help for Clark on the playing field.

"I always talk to Schnur about things that I can improve on and she's almost like another coach, as well as a friend," Clark said. "I always ask her like 'What can I do here in this situation?' if I messed up, or I can be like 'oh, was that a good ball or shot?' or something and she'll help me because she's so much more experienced than I am."

Schnur, meanwhile, sees a bright future ahead of Clark and has seen improvement in her play even just seven games into the season.

"We knew going into the season because of what we had seen this summer that she was going to be a big impact player, and she clearly has been thus far," Schnur said. "I think she just brings a different element. We have a lot of players, Clark included, on the team this year that really threaten to get in behind defenses, which we've been kind of lacking [in the past.] Kids that are willing to take people on one-vs.-one and not be afraid, kind of be fearless and going at defenders, and I think that's what she brings."

Coming from the same town and high school that produced two-time All-American and UConn star Kerry Connors is a significant source of pride for Clark.

"I feel not like I'm following in her footsteps, but [I'm] the second girl from our town who is going to UConn, and I feel like I can be as consistently successful as she was if I work hard," Clark said.

While her college career is still young, Clark has gotten her own legacy at UConn off to a great start.

Contact Mike Northup at Michael.Northup@UConn.edu.