Email This Story

Rookie soccer player creating impact

Sept. 11, 2009

By Chris Derrett

Sports writer

As a kindergartner, Hanna Gilmore's gymnastics and soccer tryouts were on the same day, forcing her to pursue one or the other. Now both the Spring freshman and her Baylor soccer teammates are reaping the benefits of all the work she has committed to the game she chose.

The Bears felt Gilmore's impact immediately as she netted two goals in the team's home opener against Lamar University. Coming off an offensively lackluster 2008, Marci Jobson used her first recruiting class to find goal-generating players like Gilmore.

"I saw that Hanna could finish," Jobson said. "She had the ability to put the ball away on chances where other people might miss, and she could hold the ball."

A six-time Texas state champion with her club team Challenge 91, Gilmore is no stranger to finding the back of the net. She only played her freshman season at Klein Collins High School to spend more time with Challenge 91, and in that year she scored a school single season record 63 points (24 goals, 15 assists) and was voted team Most Valuable Player.

Few of the goals, though, can compare to the rush of scoring in an NCAA uniform, Gilmore said.

"My favorite moment of the year was my first goal, my first collegiate goal against Lamar when I headed it in," Gilmore said. "It was awesome."

Gilmore started as a forward in the season opener at Rice and provided three shots in the 0-0 tie. Her 93 minutes impressed Jobson enough to keep Gilmore one of her three starting forwards, alongside junior Lotto Smith and freshman Dana Larsen.

"Both [Larsen and Gilmore] add a tremendous amount to our attack, and both are starting for us and will continue to start this year," Jobson said.

Junior midfielder Lindsey Johnson, who must work with forwards to generate the attacking opportunities Jobson wants, quickly noticed Gilmore's attitude and ability.

"I think the freshmen are really hard workers; they have a lot of talent and have a passion for the game," Johnson said, "Our team's really close. We've all just become a little family."

As a part of a team with family-like relationships, Gilmore soon learned jokes and making fun of one another is expected and embraced.

"You can't take it hard. You have to laugh it off and give it right back," Gilmore said. "It makes things fun. There's a time to make things serious, but we're always going to make fun."

While Gilmore says that while the game has not changed much between college and high school, adapting to the college lifestyle has challenged her. She learned that the little time between soccer and school must be carefully planned to take care of necessities.

"When I was at home, I took what I was going to have for dinner for granted. Now those little things you take for granted are the major things you worry about," Gilmore said.

Already Gilmore made Baylor history on Aug. 24 by becoming the first freshman since 2004 to earn the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week. Although Jobson said she does not want to overpressure any freshmen, she likes what she has seen from No. 13 so far.

"She's doing very well, but she has so much room to grow," Jobson said. "I think she's going to become an excellent player."

More News ...