 "Photo: Rob Strong")
"Pass shoot score. Pass shoot. Score."
Everyone has a favorite movie quote. For sophomore soccer player Nikki Thaden this line from Walt Disney's "Miracle" is not only her favorite, it defines her relationship with roommate Amy Burlingham.
Spend three minutes with both players together, and it is obvious that they like being around each other. The pair plays well together on the field, but they are like two peas in a pod away from the stadium.
"We connected right away," Burlingham said. "We have fun and laugh about everything. We could really tell that we were going to get along."
Thaden and Burlingham entered the Texas soccer program together as freshmen. Thaden hails from Iowa, while Burlingham resides in Costa Mesa, Calif. Despite coming from different parts of the country, they both have amazingly similar personalities. The two admit that some of their favorite pastimes include sampling the delicacies at Whole Foods and going out to Ruth's Chris Steak House when the funds are available.
Even though Burlingham jokes that Thaden likes to play on her computer whenever she can, Thaden says she goes on "kicks" of enjoying different things. After coming off of fascinations with iTtunes and picture books, she has advanced to making her own earrings, something she claims to be very good at.
As a child, Thaden constantly moved around. Her dad's job took the family to South Dakota, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Nebraska. Most of her life has been spent in the family's current residence of Clive, Iowa, a suburb of Des Moines.
Thaden began her soccer career after learning the game from her older brother. Both of her brothers play soccer, and she believes the competitive nature while growing up contributed to her hard-nosed style of play.
While she lived in Clive, Thaden played on the West Des Moines Odyssey Soccer Club from 1995-2003. During that stint, she dominated in the midfield. In her final two years before coming to Texas, Thaden posted a ridiculous 394 points - averaging almost four per game. These totals earned her multiple tournament MVP awards, as well as a spot on the Region II Olympic Development Program team from 1999-2003.
Although she claims to be a small-town girl, Thaden admits that she feel in love with Austin on her first visit. After arriving on the 40 Acres, she decided she didn't want to go to school anywhere else.
"I took an unofficial trip down here, and I decided that this is where I want to go, so I didn't take any official trips," Thaden said. "I fell in love with the school, and the team and coaching staff were awesome."
Ever since being here, Thaden has loved every minute of it. She enjoys the variety of people and activities that Austin has to offer, as well as playing for a top-notch soccer program.
Like many people in Austin, Thaden is a sports fanatic. She believes she has enough sports trivia knowledge in her head to pursue a career in sports. Ultimately, she'd like to become the next Linda Cohn.
"I love 'SportsCenter;' I watch it all the time," Thaden said. "When it repeats at night, I'll watch one of them then I leave the next one on and it relaxes me while I fall asleep."
But for now, the sports reporting career will have to wait.
Thaden has become an integral part of the Longhorn soccer team after only one year on the field. She has started every game in the 2004 season and has tallied seven points in as many games.
As a freshman, Thaden played in all 21 Longhorn games while starting 16. She tied with Kelly Wilson for second on the team in goals, assists and points and was behind only Kelly McDonald for the team lead in game winning goals with three. Her performances haven't been unnoticed, and Texas head coach Chris Petrucelli is glad to have her on the team.
"Nikki is a very talented soccer player who is very good at many aspects of the game," Petrucelli said. "She has great play-making ability and has a talent for knowing when and where to deliver the ball."
The shining moment of her career as a Longhorn came during the last regular-season game of 2003 against Texas A&M. With 54 seconds left in the second overtime, Thaden earned a penalty kick and drilled it by the A&M goal keeper to give Texas its first ever win against the Aggies. Thaden won her second Big 12 Newcomer of the Week award for her efforts.
Thaden's stellar first year with Texas was recognized when she received an invitation to play with the United States U-21 national team over the past summer. Thaden and Wilson were two of the players selected by U.S. team coach Petrucelli to travel to Iceland and play in the Nordic Cup. Both players contributed to a United States victory and the right to retain the cup.
"Iceland was fun, it was a great experience playing against some awesome teams and playing with girls who are amazing," Thaden said.
Now that she's back, Thaden is intent on doing everything she can to help the Longhorns. Texas has compiled a 4-3 record through the first seven games of the season, but 11 games still remain before the postseason rolls around.
When this season comes to a close, Thaden will have two years remaining in her college career. She knows her time will fly by, and she just hopes she can take it all in before it's gone.
"I just want to have fun," Thaden said. "I don't want to worry about anything else except for making the most of my time."
Be the first to comment on this article!