Nikki Marshall is training and balancing school
CU soccer stand-out Nikki Marshall had a great season for the Buffs last year, leading the team in goals with 17.
Marshall is now competing for a spot on the Under-20 Women’s National Team, where she would play in the 2008 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Chile.
She feels confident about her chances to make the squad, but it is still early on in the selection process.
“I don’t really know. It’s a huge process. I’m pretty confident. I’ve been in all the camps with the 20s, which is pretty cool,” Marshall said. “You just never know. I mean it’s a huge group of girls and they’re all amazing.”
Marshall said that she trains with the squad about once a month, but it depends on when the team calls her up to train.
But training with the national team does not come without a price because Marshall ends up missing a lot of school when she leaves to train.
“I got lucky. The camps are always a week long, so if I miss school, it’s for a long time. It’s for an entire week,” Marshall said. “I missed two full weeks this year, and then the third camp I went to was on spring break, but I do miss a lot of school.”
Marshall said the training has been tough though. The coaches of the team like the way she is playing, but they are trying to convert her from a forward to defensive back. Marshall talked about the transition to defensive back.
“It’s been tough because I don’t really know what I’m doing. Definitely, a call for more leadership than what I really want to put out,” Marshall said.
Not only did Marshall have a great season for the Buffs last year, but the team ended up having one of the best seasons in school history, making it all the way to the Sweet 16 in the Women’s College Cup.
Marshall said that head coach Bill Hempen and the team’s chemistry played a big factor in last season’s run.
“Bill is tough. He’s a tough guy, and I think that’s part of the reason why we do so well because he doesn’t put up with anything,” Marshall said.
But the team’s chemistry was the most important part of last season’s run. Marshall commented on the team’s overall chemistry.
“I think team chemistry is by far the most important element of our program here at CU,” Marshall said. “I feel like we don’t have the best talent-we don’t have 16 girls playing on the national team; we’re not North Carolina. But we do so well because we have such good chemistry.”
But right now, Marshall is working for the spot on the squad to go to the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Chile. For her, it doesn’t matter if she plays forward or defensive back on the team as long as she makes the squad.
“If I can have a spot on that team, I’ll play wherever,” Marshall said.
Contact Campus Press staff writer Kyle McDaniel at kyle.mcdaniel@thecampuspress.com.
