Phillip Klipp
Steve Woltmann

Men's Soccer

Cardinal Close-Up: Phillip Klipp

Phillip Klipp
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
(article posted by Jamie Legner, Student Sports Information Assistant)

Oct. 10, 2011 -  The pressure of being the one man that stands between the ball and the goal is welcomed by Phillip Klipp. One of eight seniors on the North Central College men's soccer team,  Klipp is a seasoned veteran.

Last season, Klipp started 14 games in goal for the Cardinals, allowing only 19 goals in 1,137 minutes. He recorded a career-low goals-against average of 1.50, earning him a spot on the All-College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Second Team. Klipp is the sixth North Central goalkeeper to earn All-CCIW honors.

Thus far in 2011, Phillip has started all 12 games, owning a goals-against average of just 0.90 and helping the Cardinals shut out eight of their opponents. With a current record of 9-2-1, North Central is in position to put together its best season in years, and currently sits in a tie for second in the CCIW standings.

Get to Know Phillip Klipp
Q: How long have you been playing soccer?
A: I've been playing since I was three years old.

Q: What's your major and do you know what you want to do with that major?
A: I'm in small business management and entrepreneurship. After graduation I'd like to move out west and open up a small soccer store of some sort or a sporting store.

Q: What is the hardest part about playing goalkeeper?
A: Getting in the right mindset. Because after getting scored on and everything it's pretty easy to get down on yourself and on your defense, so it's really tough to stay focused and stay positive towards everything.

Q: How do you feel about the team's performance so far this season?
A: I'm really proud of everything that we've done and I still think that we have a lot more to prove, so I know we're not done accomplishing everything that we can.

Q: Your team is ranked in the National Soccer Coaches Assocation of America (NSCAA) Central Region Top 10 for the first time under your head coach, Matt Klosterman. How do you feel about your ranking?
A: It's exciting considering our past results the last couple of years. It's exciting to see that someone is recognizing that we're talented and doing well.

Q: You have a few young starters this season. How does that affect the team dynamic on and off the field?
A: It definitely makes it tougher just having the same group of guys together for so long and having new guys thrown in. But they definitely have adapted to us well and we've adapted to them well. It really hasn't been as hard as I think it would be in most situations. They've been really good about everything off the field and especially on the field.

Q: Does the team have any specific goals for this season?
A: Make the CCIW Tournament.

Q: Being a senior this year, what do you think you are going to miss most about playing for North Central?
A: Mostly the guys that I've played with for the last four years here. We've really gotten to know each other and become like best friends.
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