Contact: Emily Zadny, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, 630-637-5302
Sep. 21, 2017 - For North Central College junior women's soccer player Catherine Kent, two things have always had a special place in her heart. From a young age, Kent found her passion in soccer, playing competitively with her club and high school teams. Along the way, the Elmhurst native and second youngest of her five brothers and sisters has always had support from her family.
"[My sister and I] would go in the backyard every day and play [soccer]," said Kent. "We would fight over clothes and stuff that sisters fight about, but playing soccer was the one time we got along.
"There was also a time in fifth grade when I had two goals in a game and I heard my dad on the sideline say, 'If she gets three goals, I'll take her to Disneyworld!' When I heard that, I got so excited! He didn't take me, which was a bummer, but it definitely got my attention!"
Kent took her soccer skills to the next level when she made the decision to attend and play at Loyola University in Chicago. She took a year off from soccer when she studied abroad in Australia her sophomore year, but when she returned, she felt as though that key piece in her life was missing and knew she had to make a change.
The decision did not come easy as Kent knew she would miss the friends and opportunities she had at Loyola. But when she had finally made the decision to transfer, Kent knew exactly where she was going to go. Her brother Ryan was on the football team at North Central and her sister was a junior there as well. Wanting to continue her soccer career and grow closer with her siblings, Kent became a Cardinal.
That strong sense of family that brought Kent to North Central extends beyond her relationship with her siblings and onto the soccer field.
"This is the closest-knit group of girls I've been with," said Kent. "The coaches really know how to build a team culture and we have so much support for the program. There is a lot of trust; you know no matter what happens we'll get along after."
A returning Second-Team College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) selection and one of the few upperclassmen on the team, Kent has been able to step into a leadership position for the young squad. Her confidence on the field and ability to connect with her teammates has helped her and the Cardinals find success this season.
"More than half of our starters were freshmen, so we were definitely getting the jitters out. But I could still feel the positivity," she said. "That's one thing about this team: no matter what happens, we are able to keep our head up.
"It was also just fun getting on a plane together--for some girls it was their first time! We were able to really bond and I made so many new friends that weekend."
Even though the outcome of the trip's games were not what the team had hoped for, Kent firmly believes that the experience showed the team not only what tough competition plays like but also their own capabilities, helping build confidence going into a tough conference schedule.
"I think having our first games against strong teams was good for us and shows where we're at—those teams were phenomenal and we were in those games," she said. "I am so excited for this year—I think we will make the conference tournament this year and I really think we can win."
An experienced traveler, Kent enjoyed the team's trip and already has plans in place to study abroad again over D-term in Japan. Her experience has inspired her to work in a foreign country one day, using her marketing degree to market products and lifestyles popular in other countries to the United States. Kent could see herself living and working in Switzerland to promote ecofriendly marketing in the United States.
"It was the most growing up I've ever done. I only had two assignments all term, so that was an adjustment. I got to travel to different places on my bucket list and I even went skydiving over the great barrier reef!"
For now, Kent channels most of her energy into soccer and her academics, although she still makes time for her other passions such as baking, catching up on Game of Thrones, and helping her roommate start a hammock organization on campus.
"It's not official yet," said Kent on the venture. "My roommate runs the club and I think it would be awesome! Go nap, do homework, hang out in Jefferson Plaza, but do it in a hammock!"
Kent's hammock adventures may have to wait as she and the Cardinals have a busy schedule ahead of them. North Central hosts University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Saturday, Sept. 23. Game time is set for 3:30 P.M and a link to live in-game coverage can be found HERE.
