Fontanez shines for women's soccer

Senior midfielder Kristina Marie Fontanez scored once in the 4-0 win over Hartford two weekends ago. The goal was the 15th of her illustrious career, a career that has been many years in the making.

"I started playing when I was four or five years old," Fontanez said. "I guess it was something my parents did to tire me out as a kid. I had a lot of energy, and a good way to get it out was on the soccer field."

Along with soccer, Fontanez also participated in gymnastics, softball and basketball up until high school. In high school, Fontanez threw herself into soccer, making it the primary focus during her tenure at Roy C. Ketchum.

At that point in her life, Princeton was not even a thought. But one fateful day in the summer after her junior year changed everything.

"I actually never considered the Ivy League at all. They called on July 1, the first day that they start recruiting. And after that Princeton was of course my first choice. I actually only applied to one school. I applied early decision, and I never applied to any other school."

One visit was all Fontanez needed to confirm her suspicions.

"I thought [the players] were really, really fun. They were so welcoming when I came, and they were like, 'You have to come to this school. It's the greatest school ever.' I remember having a great time. They made me want to come and find out what it felt like."

And Fontanez has never looked back. From social chair of Athletes in Action to molecular biology major, Fontanez has never lost her sense of pride for this institution.

"There is something special about playing soccer at Princeton compared to other schools. I remember coming in and seeing the uniform hanging on the locker door, and I remember how badly I wanted to wear it. And every time I wear it now, I feel so honored." Freshman year usually frightens most people. But Fontanez made the adjustment fairly easily. While admitting a "bigger workload, higher level of difficulty, and being more tired," her experience in high school did well in instilling a determined work ethic.

"Especially when you've been playing soccer for as long as I have, you get used to doing homework in the car after soccer practice. You learn to deal with what time you have and do what you can. I really think you learn time management."

But soccer has not been singularly serving her life. Fontanez believes that it has helped cultivate other things as well.

"I've been playing with a lot of [my teammates] since freshman year. We have such a great time together, on and off the field. Seven out of the 10 senors are in Cap & Gown, so we get to see a lot of each other."

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But while the work gets done and socializing is nice, Fontanez rarely loses focus of her goals on the field. She has not forgotten last season's loss to Dartmouth that resulted in the Big Green winning the Ivy title, breaking the Tigers' three-year championship streak.

"The Dartmouth game; that game was all about heart, and we didn't have it that day. And that sits in the back of our minds at practice and every game. We lost that game not because they were more talented but because we didn't have the heart. This is the last season we have, the last time to play soccer in our lives. This is the year that we have the potential to go farther than we've ever gone before. We have to give it everything we've got."

Despite last year's disappointments, Fontanez thinks the team's competive drive is as high as it has been. Fontanez attributes much of that to her coach of the last four years.

"[Head coach Julie] Shackford is one of the most competitive people I've met, and she knows how to win. She has a softer side, and a lot of people don't see that side of her. But on the field, she's working on the game."

With less than two months left in her soccer career, Fontanez is trying hard not to be too nostalgic. Seventeen years is a lot of time and it has provided a lot of memories. But Fontanez and her teammates know that they have an opportunity to make a few more lasting memories before the ride is over.