Michigan Women's Soccer Meet the Freshmen: Kelly Sweeney
8/19/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 19, 2015
Kelly Sweeney is a forward from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, attended Marian High School and played club for Vardar ECNL (2010-15), alongside fellow Michigan commit Jackie White. She will miss the 2015 season due to a knee injury suffered this summer.
Sweeney is a three-year letterwinner (2011-13) and did not play high school soccer as a senior (2014) in order to compete with Motor City FC of the WPSL and prepare for her career at Michigan. She played in just four games with the club before going down with a knee injury.
As a junior in 2014, she tallied 22 goals and 11 assists, helping Marian make a run to the Michigan State championship game for the second straight season. Following the season, she was named to the Oakland County Dream Team and a candidate for Miss Gatorade.
In her first varsity season in 2012, Sweeney helped lead Marian to the Michigan state title, netting two goals in the championship match. She earned first team All-State honors as both a freshman and sophomore (2012-13). She was also named to the first team All-Oakland County her sophomore year (2012).
Sweeney played with the Michigan ODP and ODP Region II teams (2010-11). She has attended several U.S. U-19 and U-20 National Team Camps and was also invited to the ECNL ID2 Nike Camp in Portland, Oregon, in 2014.
Academically, she was a member of the National Honors Society and Spanish Honors Society and was on the Honor Roll all four years. Sweeney also received the High Honors Achievement Award and the President's Award for Educational Excellence.
ACCORDING TO COACH RYAN
"Kelly is a very dynamic attacking player with great versatility. Kelly can play anywhere in the midfield or on the front line. We will miss Kelly this fall as she recovers from a summer injury. However, we are looking forward to having Kelly back for the next four years. She will be a huge impact player during her career at Michigan."
On why she chose the University of Michigan ... "It had all the aspects of a college experience that I wanted: academics, the soccer program, team spirit, and it is really close to home so if I want to go home I can."
On how her Michigan experience has been so far ... "The team has been awesome and really supportive through my injury -- they're very welcoming to all the freshmen. The coaches are great -- you learn a lot from them every practice. I think the team did great in the preseason game -- I think it's a great start to the season."
On her strengths on the field ... "I'm the type of player who is always attacking. I like to make runs out wide and assist my teammates. I think my speed is one of my best qualities on the field."
On her approach to the season considering her injury ... "With not being able to play, you learn so much more than if you were playing because you learn a lot about the game and how your teammates play. I'm going to really focus on my rehab and I know Michigan will get me back faster and better than before. The team has been really supportive and I know when I get back on the field they're going to be there for me. So now it's my turn to be the encourager and team supporter for them because I know they'll be there for me when I get back."
On an interesting fact about her that no one knows ... "I love to travel and learn about different cultures -- so far my favorite place I have been is Italy."
Favorite food ... Chicken Parmesan
Favorite band/artist ... Mumford and Sons
Favorite movie ... The Hunger Games
Favorite TV show ... Friday Night Lights
Favorite thing about U-M ... team spirit
Favorite thing you did this summer ... going out on a boat with my family and friends on Pine Lake
• Previous Spotlight: Ashley Calcagno
