SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Coming off a great season and making it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, freshman goalkeeper Andi Tostanoski is inspired to get even better next season. She started all 20 games she appeared in and had a season-high of 11 saves against BYU with 73 overall. Tostanoski also received a WCC All-Freshman Team selection. After completing winter training, Tostanoski is motivated for the team's five exhibition games in the coming spring.
SantaClaraBroncos.com (SCB) talked to Tostanoski (AT) about being a freshman on the women's soccer team in 2012, her best performances of the season and how she is preparing for the fall.
SCB: How was transitioning to the collegiate level?
AT: Transitioning to the collegiate level was challenging at first because the pace of the game is so much faster here. However, I caught on quickly because I had a great group of girls to help me and the most amazing coaches that made the process so much easier. I don't know what I would have done without them.
SCB: Did you have a hard time balancing school, soccer and making new friends?
AT: Sometimes it is really hard to balance all of the things that I have to do. Honestly, whenever things with soccer and my academics become very time consuming, it is my social life that suffers. I have made a point though to reach outside my comfort zone and make new friends that are outside of the soccer team. This has made my life as a freshmen and in the dorms a lot easier and fun!
SCB: What is your favorite memory of the fall season?
AT: Some of the best memories I have from the fall season are the times that the team spends in the locker room. We would blast music and dance around like idiots. The best part about being on the SCU women's soccer team is that no matter how weird you are or how bad you are at dancing or singing, everyone on the team will be crazy right along with you. Everyone gets to show who they really are and be accepted for their uniqueness. And that's what it really means to be a Bronco.
SCB: How are you preparing for next fall?
AT: As a team, we have just finished our winter season which was mostly composed of lifting, speed and agility training, and conditioning. This is a very challenging time of the year because we don't get to touch a ball as much as we like and we are conditioning our bodies to be bigger, faster and quicker (which can also be very painful). Now that the winter is over, we move into the spring, where we start preparing for our five exhibition games and then for the fall season. Everything that we do right now is so important for the success we want to have as a team next year.
SCB: You had a season high 11 saves against BYU, was that your best performance of the year?
AT: The numbers show that this was my best game. The BYU game was a huge game for our team and going in to it I was so excited to get a shut out against a very good team. They were really good this year and I did everything I could to make sure they didn't score. I also think that I have a very good game against Stanford the second time we played them. Even though we lost and they scored two goals on me, I think that game really showed how much I had grown as a college player throughout the season.
SCB: What is your favorite part about SCU outside of your soccer experience?
AT: I love the people at Santa Clara. Since I have been here, I have met some of the most amazing and inspiring students, teachers and athletes. I know that many of the people that I have met here will be lifelong friends and people who I look up to. I have learned so much from these people already and I can't wait for the next three years. I just wish it wasn't going by so fast.