Michigan Women's Soccer Meet the Freshmen: Abby Kastroll
8/13/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 13, 2015
Abby Kastroll, a midfielder from Naples, Florida, attended the Community School of Naples, lettering all four years (2012-15), and played club for the West Florida Flames.
She finished her senior season as the school-record holder for most career goals and assists with 141 and 76, respectively. She also led CSN to the Florida Class 1A State semifinal match as a senior (2015) and was named the Naples Daily news Girls Soccer Player of the Year (2015).
Previously, she has been named to the Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-State Team on three occasions (2012-14) and led CSN to three straight 1A District titles (2012-14).
In addition to playing for the U.S. ODP Florida team, she was also a member of the U.S. ODP Region III team that traveled to England and also competed in the 2013 U.S. ODP Thanksgiving Interregional.
Kastroll is also a two-time letterwinner in lacrosse, where she was a US Lacrosse All-America honorable mention in 2014.
ACCORDING TO COACH RYAN:
"Abby is a strong, fast and powerful player with excellent attacking skills. Abby is truly tenacious in her approach to the game. She can run forever and will simply outwork most opponents. Abby has a very good shot of being a regular member of this team's lineup."
 | Midfielder |
On why she chose the University of Michigan ... "I wanted to go to a big school -- I come from a small high school so I wanted a different environment with a lot of school spirit. I also wanted a great academic school, which I found through Michigan, and then a school where I could be challenged equally academically and athletically. I am in Kinesiology for sports management and I want to go into Ross (School of Business) my sophomore year."
On how her Michigan experience has been so far... "It's been so fun -- it's been the most fun I've had playing soccer. It's fun to be in an environment where you know you can get better every day because you are surrounded by so much talent and competition -- I'm loving it. The talent level is probably the biggest change from high school to college-level soccer. And the fact that everyone is competing at every practice -- you just don't get that in high school."
On how her teammates and coaches have helped you become acclimated to college ... "When I came in before preseason to work the camps, my teammates were there to help me with my workouts before our fitness testing. They're constantly giving us information and I never feel left out -- they're always there for you. The coaches are spitting out information upon information so I'm trying to absorb it all."
On competing in her first exhibition game against Ohio State ... "It was definitely good to have a preseason game before the real games start, especially Ohio State -- what a great opportunity -- it kind of felt like a real game. It was so fun and exciting I didn't really have room for nerves, they quickly went away."
On her strengths on the field ... "I just love the game so hopefully my love for the game is contagious to everyone else. If we are all doing what we love it's hard not to play well."
On what she's looking forward to this season ... "Winning -- if we are winning I'm pretty happy. Also, in high school, I had to drive two hours just to get a practice in at home, so the fact that it's now in my backyard and that I have such a tight team that lives right next to me that's actually what I'm really excited for."
On an interesting fact about her ... "I'm a big family person -- I have seven brothers and sisters. I'm the second oldest and I have an eight-month old younger brother. Family is important to me."
Favorite food ... Mediterranean food
Favorite band/artist ... Taylor Swift
Favorite movie ... Rush Hour sequel
Favorite TV show ... The Office
Favorite thing about U-M ... The school spirit
Favorite thing you did this summer ... I went to Costa Rica with my cousins for my 18th birthday
