Take 10 with Jessie Bruch

Although the summer days are still long and intensely hot, the fall athletics season will soon be underway.  To gear up for the new season, the Nebraska soccer team will be hosting the annual Meet N Beat event on Aug. 22, during which fans can bring the whole family out to participate in fun events and games while getting a chance to meet the team, including senior Jessie Bruch.  A mainstay for the Huskers at the midfielder position, Bruch sat down with Huskers.com to Take 10 about the Meet N Beat, her upcoming senior season, and which body part she prefers to use to score goals.

 

HC: Explain what happens at the Meet N Beat.

JB: First of all, it's an opportunity for us to showcase the university's great facility, our team and our giving spirit, as we get involved with the community. Children of all ages come and play a variety of games with the members of the soccer team. Several stations are set up for the children so they can test their skills in a specific drill – for example, penalty kicks, cone dribbling and scrimmages.  The team also gives autographs.

HC: What will your role be at the Meet N Beat?
JB: My role will be supervising the games, giving instructions to the children and answering questions. I may also run a specific drill.

HC: What's the most fun part about the Meet N Beat?
JB: The best part about this event is seeing the kids have fun. 

HC: What advice would you give fans wanting to beat a Husker goalkeeper?
JB: My best advice would be to aim low and go for the corners.

 

HC: In high school you were a defender. Does that give you a different perspective now that you're the one trying to beat the defenders?
JB: I definitely have more insight because I understand what annoys defenders and what is difficult to defend. I use what I have learned as a defender to my advantage on the field.

HC: You've played on two U.S. National teams as well as for Nebraska.  What's been the most memorable game you've played in?
JB: The most memorable game I played was when I was training with the U-21 National Team and we had the opportunity to scrimmage against the Women's National Team. It was the most memorable because I finally got a taste of what it felt like to play at that level but also because I tore my ACL in that game.

HC: What's the most memorable goal you've had?
JB: My most memorable goal came when I was a freshman in high school. I was the only freshman who played on varsity, and I had an older sister who was a junior on the team. We were playing in the finals of the Incarnate Word Soccer Tournament against Incarnate Word and my older sister scored the first goal to tie the game 1-1. It was a tough game and we went into overtime and I scored the winning goal, which was my first high school goal.  It was also the goal that broke a seven-year jinx with IncarnateWordHigh School soccer team over Nerinx Hall, my high school team.  Details of the game made the the newspaper the next day saying something about the Bruch sisters.

HC:

You're pretty well-known for your headers. Would you rather score with your head or your feet?

JB: A goal is a goal. I will take it off the shoulder if I have to.

HC: What are you most excited about for this season?
JB: A fresh new start. New faces. New attitude. New assistant coaches. This is also my senior year with the Nebraska Huskers women's soccer team and I want it to be a good year.

HC: What can fans look forward to this season?
JB: Fans can look forward to new players, which is always exciting ...and great women's soccer.