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Athlete of the week
BY ROBERT DOWNS
statesman staff writer
ROBERT DOWNS / STATESMAN
Francisco works on ball-handling skills.
Briana Francisco has had a positive impact during her illustrious four-year career with the Bulldog women's soccer team.
For example, last year Francisco played every game for the Bulldogs and recorded six shutouts. She was also selected to play on the NSCAA/Adidas All-Central Regional third team.
Francisco is the fourth goalkeeper in UMD history to be chosen to the North Central Conference (NCC) first team. In high school, she guarded the net for Eden Prairie High School and won All-Conference and All-State honorable mention her senior season, which included a section and conference championship for the Eagles.
She also played for the St. Croix Premier Soccer Club, which won five State Cup Championships.This year Francisco is helping the team improve. Last week against Concordia- St. Paul, Francisco shutout the Golden Bears, leading to a 1-0 victory. The shutout brought the Bulldogs record to 3-4 overall in the season.
Despite her shutout victory in the box score, Francisco said that she can't take all of the credit. "Most of the time when people get shutouts, it's the defensive players that should get the credit," Francisco said. "There is so much you can't find just by looking at statistics. Every time my defense makes a stop, it doesn't get recorded."
This statement has merit, considering the defense held the Golden Bears to only five shots, with only one shot on goal, according to the UMD Web site.
Although she's gathered many personal honors for her efforts, Francisco insisted that personal honors aren't important to her at all. She said that her favorite part of UMD soccer is her teammates. "The soccer team is like your family," she said. "We become best friends on and off of the field."
People's interest might be turned off by the Bulldogs' 3-4 record, but Francisco said that it's not all about the record. "I think that more people need to give the soccer team a chance," she said. Instead, Francisco maintained that despite their losing record, there is an air of confidence about the shin-padded squad.
"We're actually a really good and talented team," Francisco said. "We have a lot of heart and determination." Along with the record, she addressed the modest turn-outs to the Bulldog home games, and encourages fans to come and show their support. "It's a great game to watch, and I don't know why you wouldn't," she said.
On a more personal note, Francisco likes alternative music, sailing and watching stand-up comedy. After college, she plans to attend Medical School.
