Flame on the Hot Seat: Kelsey Yoder
Photo by Andy Mitchell courtesy of Lee Athletic Communications.
This week’s Flame on the Hot Seat is senior soccer player Kelsey Yoder. Coming from Cicero, Indiana, she joined the Lady Flames in fall 2017. Kelsey is a nursing major, and when she’s not studying hard for an exam or playing soccer, she enjoys going to the mountains with friends.
What brought you to Lee?
“I was looking for a smaller Christian school where I could have a good community, play soccer and do nursing. Lee had all of those things, and when I visited, I fell in love with how the team loved and treated each other.”
How did you get into playing soccer?
“I started playing soccer when I was six. My dad played in high school and college, so it was something that my family did when we were growing up as kids. I tried some other sports, too, as I was growing up [such as] basketball and volleyball, but soccer was my favorite. I played it every year of my life since I was six.”
What is your favorite thing about playing soccer?
Photo courtesy of Lee Athletic Communications
“First, I love the team aspect of soccer and how you have to unite to accomplish a goal, especially when we’re working towards a national championship or a conference championship. I also love the competitiveness of it, of beating your man in a one v. one, or making a good side tackle, or winning a ball in the air. I love those little competitive things that come with soccer. I think it’s the most beautiful game to watch how we move the ball all across the field to the ultimate goal of scoring. I love soccer!”
How do you stay calm and collected when the game is not going your way?
“I feel like staying calm is one of my strengths and something I try to bring to the team. The way we stay calm and collected is to go back to the basics of just passing, moving and trying to keep possession and slow the game down, making the simple plays. There are those moments in the game where it gets super hectic, and that’s all you have to do is slow down for a second and make a five-yard pass, and that will help a ton!”
What does your pregame routine look like?
“The day we have our pregame meal when it’s a home game we always make sandwiches and a pasta dish and fruit. Then, we come back to the locker room and change. Usually, we have locker room dances and a dance party to get all the nerves out. The most fun part of game day besides the game itself is doing the locker room dances and having fun with our teammates.”
What has been your favorite memory at Lee so far?
“My favorite memory was going to the final four [the national championship.] That was the best experience of soccer, ever. We had defeated two or three undefeated teams on our way to that national championship final four game. We went to Pittsburg, and that was the most awesome thing ever, playing at Highmark Stadium, and then being surrounded by athletes who are all competing for a national championship. The team was awesome.”
What do you look forward to most about your time here at Lee and with this team?
“I’m looking forward to another season and another chance to go for a national championship because I feel like each year we get closer and closer. I’m just excited to have another season which is another opportunity to build friendships and relationships with the girls on the team and memories with them because it’s crazy that that part of my life is about to be over. I want to soak it in as much as possible and have as much fun as possible with them and playing the sport because I really can’t believe that this will be my last time playing soccer competitively in this way, so I want to work as hard as I can, but I look forward to having as much fun as possible next semester.”
Photo courtesy of Kelsey Yoder
What would you say is your go-to song to get into the zone before a game?
“‘Coming In Hot’ by Andy Mineo. That’s my song!”
What are your hobbies outside of soccer?
“Usually, it’s soccer and nursing, that’s what I do, but I’m very passionate about fighting human trafficking. So one of my side things is fundraising for that and coming up with new ways to spread awareness and to raise money to fight human trafficking. Of course, I love enoing, going to the mountains and that sort of thing with friends too. Ooh, I also love crossnet and spikeball!”
What’s your favorite movie of all time?
“The other day I told somebody my favorite movie was ‘The School of Rock.’ I just love that movie so much because it makes me laugh the entire time so I’ll just stick with that one.”
