[media-credit name=’DEREK MONTGOMERY/Herald photo’ align=’alignright’ width=’336′][/media-credit]It’s easy for a freshman athlete to slip through the cracks. Most freshman athletes only get to see a few minutes of game time. They usually watch from the bench, learning the game and adjusting to the new, intense levels of competition. It’s hard for a freshman to make noise early in the season. However, this is not the case for Wisconsin’s women’s soccer team.

In the team’s season opener against Creighton, freshman forward Elise Weber accomplished what most freshmen only dream of — putting a point on the scoreboard.

In the second half of the game, Weber intercepted the ball from a Creighton defender, interchanged the ball and fired it past the Bluejays goalkeeper for her first career goal as a Badger.

It was an exciting time for the Elk Grove, Ill., native. Not only did she manage to score a goal during her first game, but the Badgers picked up their first win of the season, defeating the Bluejays, 2-0.

“It was pretty cool,” Weber added about her first goal. “It was an awesome weekend and a great experience, especially as the first weekend going on a trip with a really good team. It was just amazing because all the girls are awesome. It was just a really cool experience.”

After only four games, Weber is just one of three players on the UW soccer team to score a goal. Seniors Amy Vermeulen and Katy Lindenmuth both have also earned points for the cardinal and white.

Weber also posted a crucial assist against Oklahoma State last Sunday. In the second half, junior Allison Preiss passed the ball to Weber, who then shot the ball over to the net, where Vermeulen was there to head it in. It would be the only goal for the Badgers that day, as the game ended in a 1-1 tie.

“She has done a great job,” captain Jessica Ring commented on Weber’s early impact. “She has come in as a freshman, which is obviously hard to do, and has stepped in and played a big role in the team. She has just fit right in with the team and that is really great.”

“She’s got points,” Wisconsin head coach Dean Duerst said about Weber. “Anytime a player can step in and get us some points in any way or fashion, they’re immediately making an impact. She is a smooth player and we expected her to fit in right away and she got some smooth skills that should obviously show. It’s great because the personnel we have, she fits in well with them. She is versatile, like several of our other players. That helps as well.”

Though Webber has made an early impact, she is still trying to adjust to her new life as a student athlete. Her high school days are over and she now competes with the biggest and best in college soccer.

“It’s a huge difference,” Weber said. “I think the biggest difference that I have found is strength-wise. People are way bigger and it is a lot more physical. I had a trainer in high school and we lifted (weights) a little bit, but it is more intense here.”

Weber also has found it difficult to live away from home. Though homesick, she has found comfort and friendship among her new list of teammates.

“With soccer, it’s just awesome so far,” Weber said.

It is also safe to say that Weber has found a new home in Madison.
“It’s been a blast,” Weber said. “I would not have it any other way. It has just been so much fun and hopefully it will just get better as we start playing conference, the Big Ten tournament and NCAA tournament.”

As the Big Ten season approaches, Duerst would like to see Weber contribute more offensively.

“It does not have to be in points,” Duerst said. “I would like to see her contribute offensively as well. It’s a long season and she needs to be patient with herself.”

Duerst compares Weber to a young Lindenmuth, saying Weber could learn much from the Badger captain.

“Katy Lindenmuth was very similar,” Duerst said. “She had some early success her freshman year and she just kept getting better and better and just that eagerness to want to be a sponge and learn from your players and opponents. She has some great players to look up to and I think she will do that. She is a student of the game and she likes to talk about the game. She will do her best to contribute to the team. She is a real team player.”