With the Seattle University Women’s Soccer season wrapping up this past week, Senior midfielder Caroline Penner has left a strong legacy on Seattle U athletics. Penner had a fantastic season this year, leading the West Coast Conference (WCC) in goals (17) and assists (six), and is tied for sixth in the nation for goals. Recently, she scored four goals against Oregon State, earning her the WCC Offensive Player of the Week award for the second time this season. Penner was also named the WCC Offensive Player of the Year.
The following is an excerpt from a Nov. 7 interview. Initials indicate the speaker.
JP: How long have you been playing soccer, and what do you love about it?
CP: I’ve been playing soccer since I was three years old. It was always really fun for me. I also love being part of a team. It’s always a good time, and I love the competitiveness that comes with playing soccer and always having a ball at my feet.
JP: Why did you choose to play soccer at Seattle University?
CP: I actually committed really early to Seattle University. I toured the college before I even toured my high school and instantly fell in love…I’m a biology major on a pre-med path, so I love the small class sizes and that it’s a place I can focus on my academics along with my soccer career. The community was a huge part of choosing Seattle University.
JP: How do you balance being a biology major while also being a D1 athlete?
CP: I think it’s all about time management, being a biology major and playing soccer. I really categorize that when I’m on the field, I make sure my full focus is on soccer, and then when I am doing school, I make sure my whole focus is on that. It’s a lot of work balancing it, but my coaches make it easy. They are very understanding when I need to study, especially on travel trips, so I appreciate them a lot.
JP: Can you describe a typical travel game day for you?
CP: On Wednesday, a typical game day, we have breakfast between 8:30 and 9:30. Usually, I get up before that and try to do some homework, and then we eat breakfast as a team. We usually have a team walk-through right after breakfast, and we go through the strategy for the game for a little bit. Then we’ll have a tiny bit of downtime, where I’ll usually do homework until 12:30 and then try to get a little walk in, or some movement or a nap or something. Then we’ll have lunch at 1:30, and then after that, it’s just getting ready for the game. We have the pre-game around 3:45, and then the game is at 7. Up until then, we’re just traveling to the field, then warming up, and then playing. And then the game will get done by 9, 9:30, and then it’s just back to the hotel.
JP: What are your plans for after graduation, and do you still plan on competing?
CP: No, I think I’m done after this year, unfortunately. It’s definitely gonna be tough, but I’m planning on applying to medical school in June. So I’ll be taking a gap year.
JP: What have been some of your highlights for playing soccer at SU?
CP: I think my highlights have been my teammates. Honestly, they’re my best friends. They’re my family. I can’t imagine being without them and being with them on the field as well. It’s the best experience in the world playing with my best friends.
JP: How does it feel to have gotten the WCC offensive player of the week twice this season?
CP: It’s been super cool. Coming into a big conference, you don’t know how you’ll do, how you’ll compete. And I think it’s been fun showing that not only me, but other attackers have also gotten WCC offensive player of the week, and that we belong in this conference and that we’re strong players individually and as a team. So it’s super neat, and it’s been really fun.
Seattle U women’s soccer closed out the regular season Nov. 8, where they took home the victory against the University of San Diego.
