Natalia Behnken '12 Recruiting Profile

 I am 5'7" and weigh 130 pounds. I have been playing soccer since I was 7 years old and I love the sport. I began playing at the comp level at age 11 and in the premier division for the last 4 years. In 2009 I made the Utah State ODP team as an alternate. In 2010 and 2011 I again made the UT State ODP team and started every game as a central back and played a vast majority of each game at the ODP championships.  I was also selected for the Region IV camp in both 2010 and 2011. During the 2010 ODP championships our team advanced all the way to the championship game where we lost 2-1 in the finals. I have started varsity every year in high school and rarely leave the field. We took State my first year, finished 2nd in State my second year and again won State again in 2010. I am a strong and confident defender with excellent foot skills, tenacious defense with critical goal saving steals and, most of all, strong and accurate long distance serves to the forwards.  I am very quick to the ball and confident in my ability to confront and deflect the ball from the best ball handlers. I would like to attend a medium to large size school but the most important thing is my education so I am very interested in the school's reputation for academics and the coach’s position and focus on academics for the team members. I am planning to pursue the field of pharmacy. My goal as a college athlete is to work very hard and get as much play time as possible as a freshman, play half or more of the game as a sophomore and be starting as a junior and senior. I know that will take hard work, focus and dedication but I am confident in myself and absolutely love to play.