SE: Far From Home, Chloe Fisher Enjoying Wildcat Support and Ready to Reciprocate with More Offense
Sep 06, 2018 | Soccer, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
At a soccer showcase in England in July of 2017, K-State head coach Mike Dibbini was one of several coaches watching. Most wore their school's brightest color and stood as close to the action as possible, in an effort to be noticed.
Dibbini sported all black, save for a white K-State soccer crest. He stood in the back, well behind the huddle of his cohorts. "I was more of the lowkey one, just taking notes," he recalled.
He had his eye on a 5-foot-9 forward, Chloe Fisher, and his notes on her lined up for the exact player he was hoping to bring in to his program. She had immense on-ball skill and was especially talented with her back to the goal, creating offense in ways he envisioned adding to his team's repertoire.
Fisher, despite Dibbini's subtle approach, noticed him. She was interested, to say the least, in the man in black.
"Kansas State was always the one that caught my eye because everyone had bright colors on and (Dibbini) was just in all black. It kind of intrigued me and my dad," she said. "I looked into it, and I think it was the best choice I could have made."
Five matches into her K-State career, Fisher said her decision to come to K-State has continuously been validated.
"The girls are so close, sort of like a family. They're really supportive. On the side of the field, everyone's cheering you on. That doesn't really happen at home," she said. "If you ever need, literally, anything, anyone will be there to help you. There's lots of resources, lots of people to go to, especially being an international (student-athlete) far away from home. The campus is so nice. I just love it here."
Still, she admitted it's tough being so far away from home. It's not any easier for her parents to watch her play, either. The Central Time Zone is six hours behind where her parents, David and Joanne, and her 12-year-old sister, Olivia, live. So when they watch her play, usually on ESPN3 or K-StateHD.TV, it's typically late at night.
"My dad sets an alarm and texts me a good luck message and says, 'I'll be up at 1 a.m.,'" Fisher said, adding that she receives constant support from home via text messages, Facetime calls and, even, postcards from friends and family. "The support back home is incredible."
Outside of the obvious changes — namely, the weather and culture — Fisher said the biggest difference in her 4,000-plus mile move has been the style of play on the soccer field. The types of passes she was used to come less often. The athleticism of the average player has been greater. The pace of the game has quickened
"Here, it's 24/7," she said of the tempo. "You don't get to rest."
On her official recruiting visit last fall, Fisher saw the changes she was going to encounter. She tried her best to prepare for it all, but some adjustments simply take time. So far, she's netted one goal and recorded a team-best .750 shots-on-goal percentage (min. 6 shot attempts).
"Hopefully in the next couple of games I'll start getting used to it," she said, "and playing how I used to when I was back in England."
In England, Fisher's talent allowed her to join the development program for Manchester United from 2014-16. She then played for Everton's development program for one season.
Throughout her career, she said her strength has been creating offense for herself and others. She said she's not lived up to her standards at K-State, but she feels close to breaking through.
"My goal came off a rebound from a corner (against Oakland)," she said. "Normally I create a lot of goals. I don't feel like I've created any chances for myself yet. But I think that's just down to me and the midfield connecting, and them seeing where I'm running and where I want the ball. Once those opportunities start coming, hopefully then I can start scoring more.
"That's what I'm used to in England, anyway," she added, with a laugh.
Dibbini agreed with Fisher, that her time is coming sooner rather than later. Her skillset is different than most of his forwards, so teammates are adjusting to her as much as she is to them.
"If we can learn to play to her feet a little bit more, she'll be more dangerous for us. We have different types of forwards, with Tatum (Wagner) being the stretching forward that can run behind. Chloe's more of a player that we need to get it to her feet a little bit more," he said, as K-State (3-1-1) hosts UMKC (4-2-0) on Friday at 6 p.m., and travels to face Indiana (3-1-1) on Sunday at 1 p.m.
"She's got so much upside that we haven't even tapped yet. There's things she has to work on, but she has a lot of special upside for us."
At a soccer showcase in England in July of 2017, K-State head coach Mike Dibbini was one of several coaches watching. Most wore their school's brightest color and stood as close to the action as possible, in an effort to be noticed.
Dibbini sported all black, save for a white K-State soccer crest. He stood in the back, well behind the huddle of his cohorts. "I was more of the lowkey one, just taking notes," he recalled.
He had his eye on a 5-foot-9 forward, Chloe Fisher, and his notes on her lined up for the exact player he was hoping to bring in to his program. She had immense on-ball skill and was especially talented with her back to the goal, creating offense in ways he envisioned adding to his team's repertoire.
Fisher, despite Dibbini's subtle approach, noticed him. She was interested, to say the least, in the man in black.
"Kansas State was always the one that caught my eye because everyone had bright colors on and (Dibbini) was just in all black. It kind of intrigued me and my dad," she said. "I looked into it, and I think it was the best choice I could have made."
Five matches into her K-State career, Fisher said her decision to come to K-State has continuously been validated.
"The girls are so close, sort of like a family. They're really supportive. On the side of the field, everyone's cheering you on. That doesn't really happen at home," she said. "If you ever need, literally, anything, anyone will be there to help you. There's lots of resources, lots of people to go to, especially being an international (student-athlete) far away from home. The campus is so nice. I just love it here."
Still, she admitted it's tough being so far away from home. It's not any easier for her parents to watch her play, either. The Central Time Zone is six hours behind where her parents, David and Joanne, and her 12-year-old sister, Olivia, live. So when they watch her play, usually on ESPN3 or K-StateHD.TV, it's typically late at night.
"My dad sets an alarm and texts me a good luck message and says, 'I'll be up at 1 a.m.,'" Fisher said, adding that she receives constant support from home via text messages, Facetime calls and, even, postcards from friends and family. "The support back home is incredible."
Outside of the obvious changes — namely, the weather and culture — Fisher said the biggest difference in her 4,000-plus mile move has been the style of play on the soccer field. The types of passes she was used to come less often. The athleticism of the average player has been greater. The pace of the game has quickened
"Here, it's 24/7," she said of the tempo. "You don't get to rest."
On her official recruiting visit last fall, Fisher saw the changes she was going to encounter. She tried her best to prepare for it all, but some adjustments simply take time. So far, she's netted one goal and recorded a team-best .750 shots-on-goal percentage (min. 6 shot attempts).
"Hopefully in the next couple of games I'll start getting used to it," she said, "and playing how I used to when I was back in England."
In England, Fisher's talent allowed her to join the development program for Manchester United from 2014-16. She then played for Everton's development program for one season.
Throughout her career, she said her strength has been creating offense for herself and others. She said she's not lived up to her standards at K-State, but she feels close to breaking through.
"My goal came off a rebound from a corner (against Oakland)," she said. "Normally I create a lot of goals. I don't feel like I've created any chances for myself yet. But I think that's just down to me and the midfield connecting, and them seeing where I'm running and where I want the ball. Once those opportunities start coming, hopefully then I can start scoring more.
"That's what I'm used to in England, anyway," she added, with a laugh.
Dibbini agreed with Fisher, that her time is coming sooner rather than later. Her skillset is different than most of his forwards, so teammates are adjusting to her as much as she is to them.
"If we can learn to play to her feet a little bit more, she'll be more dangerous for us. We have different types of forwards, with Tatum (Wagner) being the stretching forward that can run behind. Chloe's more of a player that we need to get it to her feet a little bit more," he said, as K-State (3-1-1) hosts UMKC (4-2-0) on Friday at 6 p.m., and travels to face Indiana (3-1-1) on Sunday at 1 p.m.
"She's got so much upside that we haven't even tapped yet. There's things she has to work on, but she has a lot of special upside for us."
Players Mentioned
F
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