OC Register: Titans senior goalie Jennifer Stuart anchors three-time defending Big West champs
FULLERTON, Calif. - Mirin Fader of the Orange County Register takes a look at reigning Big West Conference Goalkeeper of the Year Jennifer Stuart and dives into what makes the Titans keeper strive to be great. Read an excerpt from the story below and click on the link to read the story from the OC Register.
By Mirin Fader | Click here to read the full story
Catching her breath in the stands as an August practice winds down, Jennifer Stuart is covered in grass. From her face to her shin socks, from her forearms to her fingers, all the way down to the turquoise swoosh on her cleats – not an inch is spared.
That's a normal day for the reigning Big West Conference Goalkeeper of the Year, who is also often caked in mud.
There's nothing Cal State Fullerton's senior keeper won't do to save the ball. And there is no better feeling than, in her own words, "making that (difficult) save that keeps the team in the game."
She stretches out her arms, as if holding a mini-goal between her palms, to demonstrate the expansive area the 5-foot-10 keeper must cover with just her arms and legs.
That's a responsibility, a pressure and a power Stuart craves.
"I love being that person in the back that everyone can rely on," she said. "It's a different type of strength. It's a different type of courage to throw your body in front of a ball going 50-plus miles an hour."
"It's a quiet pride," said Stuart, who has helped Fullerton to three straight Big West Tournament championships and NCAA Division I Tournament appearances. Her 139 career saves rank sixth at Fullerton, her 26 career wins rank second and her 14 career shutouts rank third.
"You do it because you need to," Stuart said, "because you have to."