Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Sporls Promc
{The Blue Banner}
Page 19
Soccer midfielder makes plays for UNCA
Amari Clements
ACLEMENT@UNCA.EDU
STAFF WRITER
Similar to what Kobe Bryant is to the
Lakers, Leilani Halkiotis is an important
component to UNC Asheville’s women’s
soccer team when it comes to making key
plays.
“She is a great player, an excellent play
er,” said best friend and teammate Carolyn
O’Brien. “She has improved consistently
since freshman year. She is probably one
of our best center mids.”
Bearing number 12 on her back, Halki
otis is in her third year as a midfielder for
the Bulldogs.
“I literally play in the center of the field.
A lot of the balls come through me, so I’m
kind of like the playmaker,” she said.
Born in the small town of Brookeville,
Md., Halkiotis’ soccer career started at the
young age of 8.
“The feeling I get playing games, before,
during and after is what I love about soccer.
You win some, you lose some, but it defi
nitely has its rewards. I am very competi
tive, so losing is tough for me, but when
you play your heart out, and you know you
play your heart out, you feel good even if
you lose,” she said.
She said her older sister was her inspira
tion to enter into the game.
“To be honest, I wanted to be just like
my sister,” she said. “Besides soccer, I
was really serious about gymnastics. I also
played coed volleyball in high school. That
was really fun. I just knew soccer was the
sport I wanted to play in college, and that’s
what I focused on.”
While a student at Sherwood High
School, Halkiotis scored five goals dur
ing her senior year. She also played for the
Bethesda Rapids and helped them reach
the 2007 Maryland State Cup Champion
ship and Jefferson Cup Finals.
Halkiotis is at UNCA on an athletic
scholarship, but she said her -goals after
graduation may not include soccer.
“1 plan on going to physician assistant
school, and hopefully that will be a good
move. If there is an opportunity for soccer,
I will definitely consider it, but I am trying
to focus on my studies.”
Last season for the Bulldogs, Halkiotis
started in 15 matches and played in 16
games. She kicked 22 shots, which was the
fourth most on the team.
“I’m not sure what the records stand as,
but I Would love to break one. That would
be awesome,” she said.
In 2008, her freshman year, she started
tti 18 of the 19 matches. She was also the
fifth-leading scorer, with two goals and
pve points.
' It was also the same year she had her
“The feeling I get
playing a game is what
I iove about soccer."
- Leilani Halkiotis,
junior soccer player
most memorable experience, she said.
“My first freshman goal versus Furman
was unforgettable. There was six minutes
Bulldog
Scorecard
s soccer
Wednesday
V5. use Upstate
0- 1 (L)
Saturday
vs.ETSU
1- 2 (L)
Women’s
soccer
Sunday
V5’. S.C. State
CANCELLED
yplleyball
,; Saturday
vs. Coastal Carolina
3-2 (W)
Tuesday
Mercer
3-0 (W) ,
Photo courtesy of UNCA Athletics
Leilani Halkiotis holds off a rival player from East Tennessee State
University iast month.
' ..t ‘ left, and my goal tied the game and led
us to overtime. I was one-on-one with the
keeper, and she knocked the wind out of
me. I couldn’t even celebrate, but it was
really exciting,” Halkiotis said.
According to Head Coach Michelle
Demko, it does not take long to notice
Halkiotis’ potential. Demko said she has
realized her talent and knows there is more
to it.
“I think she is dynamic and strong to
watch,” Demko said. “She is a big piece
of the puzzle that is strong, technical, and
smart.”
Demko said she is also impressed with
Halkiotis’ work ethic.
“She is one of the hardest working play
ers on the team,” Demko said. “She is the
reason why we can be successful on the
field and has a ton of potential that we can
tap into.”
Cindi Miller
Junior Ciridi Miller recorded
a career-high 24 kilis against
Conference rjvais Coastal
Carolina, earning her Big
South piayer of the week.