SE: Green Handling Old Position, Bigger Role for K-State Soccer Well
Sep 26, 2019 | Soccer, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
Avery Green was at her kitchen table when her father told her K-State was adding a women's soccer program. She didn't think much of it, at first. But she would.
A sophomore at Maize South High School at the time, Green had fallen in love with K-State the year before, thanks to a friend whose family had football season tickets and often brought her with them. This announcement was the start of two loves coming together.
"He told me about it, and I was, like, 'Oh, that's pretty cool,' but I never thought I would play here," Green said. "K-State was always kind of the school I wanted to go to. It just all kind of fell into place."
Green's recruitment took off shortly after the announcement in October of 2014.
K-State head coach Mike Dibbini noticed her at a club scrimmage that also included current Wildcats in Brookelynn Entz, Maguire Sullivan and Ashley Zane. That spring, he watched Green play against Entz's Newton team and saw enough.
"He offered me after that game," Green said.
Green, now a junior center back for K-State, leads her team in minutes played (758) as the Wildcats open Big 12 play at home against Baylor on Thursday at 7 p.m. and Texas on Sunday at 1 p.m. She's added the type of skills to K-State's backline that Dibbini first saw five years ago and knew he would need.
"She's a really good aerial defender. Defensively, one v one, she's good. She brings a presence, covers ground, plays a lot of minutes for us because she does a lot of dirty work that goes unnoticed for us," he said. "(She brings) versatility. She could play center back and she could play a holding mid for us. So, she's just grown more and more comfortable and confident in that position over the years."
While recruited as a center back, Green played her first two seasons at K-State as more of a defensive midfielder because that's where she was needed more at the time. She played in 30 matches with 20 starts between the two seasons, averaging 62.2 minutes per match. This season, she moved back to her natural position and, like she did her first two years, she carved out a bigger role than the year before.
"In high school, we all were like the best player on our team, and you come in here and you're surrounded with all the girls that were the best players on their teams, so you kind of have to start over," Green, averaging 84.2 minutes of action this season, said. "Honestly, a lot of people think, 'I made it to college soccer,' and it ends there. But, honestly, this is just the beginning. You have to re-earn your spot and prove yourself out there."
She credited her daily drive to continue doing so to her belief in K-State's program.
"I just believe in this program so much. I know what we're capable of," she said. "Ultimately, I want to put my best foot forward and work hard every day to get us to where I know we can be."
Green said this belief began during her recruitment. As it progressed, it quickly became evident to her that K-State was the place for her.
"The coaches are a big part of that. I bought into them from the very beginning. They've been great coaches all along, and they've really built that confidence in us," she said. "On our official visit or even soccer camps that I had with my recruiting class, we all played so well together from the very first time we stepped on the field, and we already had that chemistry. I think it was at that moment where we were, like, 'OK, we have something going here and we can build off of this and make a big impact.'"
Like her minutes, Green's impact has continued to increase. She said her understanding of the bigger defensive picture has taken sizable leaps, mostly because of assistant coach Gabe Romo's approach.
"Gabe especially has taught me so much that I never even knew about defense, and I keep learning every day," she said. "Things as simple as holding your line in the back or knowing when I can and when I can't step, learning to be more physical and all the small details of defense that you don't really think about, I didn't learn about them until I got to this level."
One facet of her game has not changed, however. She, like most defenders, said she loves to do the dirty work in the backfield. A good example: Against CSUN earlier this season, K-State's defense was beat, including goalkeeper Emma Malsy, when Green sprinted her way back into the play and slid to deflect what looked to be an easy goal out of bounds in an eventual 0-0 tie.
"That's my favorite part of the game, honestly," she said. "I love covering for people. I love running extra than I would need to and covering more space on the field. That's kind of how I like to play the game.
"We all take pride in doing the dirty work in the back and letting our forwards shine, and that doesn't (negatively) affect any of us. We like doing that and we like helping our team out."
Green said the play of K-State's backline should be crucial in helping the team take a step forward in conference play.
"This year, we've shown that we have the depth, we can score the goals," she said. "So, I think that makes it even more important for our backline to get as many shutouts as we can to give our team an opportunity to win."
Avery Green was at her kitchen table when her father told her K-State was adding a women's soccer program. She didn't think much of it, at first. But she would.
A sophomore at Maize South High School at the time, Green had fallen in love with K-State the year before, thanks to a friend whose family had football season tickets and often brought her with them. This announcement was the start of two loves coming together.
"He told me about it, and I was, like, 'Oh, that's pretty cool,' but I never thought I would play here," Green said. "K-State was always kind of the school I wanted to go to. It just all kind of fell into place."
Green's recruitment took off shortly after the announcement in October of 2014.
K-State head coach Mike Dibbini noticed her at a club scrimmage that also included current Wildcats in Brookelynn Entz, Maguire Sullivan and Ashley Zane. That spring, he watched Green play against Entz's Newton team and saw enough.
"He offered me after that game," Green said.
Green, now a junior center back for K-State, leads her team in minutes played (758) as the Wildcats open Big 12 play at home against Baylor on Thursday at 7 p.m. and Texas on Sunday at 1 p.m. She's added the type of skills to K-State's backline that Dibbini first saw five years ago and knew he would need.
"She's a really good aerial defender. Defensively, one v one, she's good. She brings a presence, covers ground, plays a lot of minutes for us because she does a lot of dirty work that goes unnoticed for us," he said. "(She brings) versatility. She could play center back and she could play a holding mid for us. So, she's just grown more and more comfortable and confident in that position over the years."
While recruited as a center back, Green played her first two seasons at K-State as more of a defensive midfielder because that's where she was needed more at the time. She played in 30 matches with 20 starts between the two seasons, averaging 62.2 minutes per match. This season, she moved back to her natural position and, like she did her first two years, she carved out a bigger role than the year before.
"In high school, we all were like the best player on our team, and you come in here and you're surrounded with all the girls that were the best players on their teams, so you kind of have to start over," Green, averaging 84.2 minutes of action this season, said. "Honestly, a lot of people think, 'I made it to college soccer,' and it ends there. But, honestly, this is just the beginning. You have to re-earn your spot and prove yourself out there."
She credited her daily drive to continue doing so to her belief in K-State's program.
"I just believe in this program so much. I know what we're capable of," she said. "Ultimately, I want to put my best foot forward and work hard every day to get us to where I know we can be."
Green said this belief began during her recruitment. As it progressed, it quickly became evident to her that K-State was the place for her.
"The coaches are a big part of that. I bought into them from the very beginning. They've been great coaches all along, and they've really built that confidence in us," she said. "On our official visit or even soccer camps that I had with my recruiting class, we all played so well together from the very first time we stepped on the field, and we already had that chemistry. I think it was at that moment where we were, like, 'OK, we have something going here and we can build off of this and make a big impact.'"
Like her minutes, Green's impact has continued to increase. She said her understanding of the bigger defensive picture has taken sizable leaps, mostly because of assistant coach Gabe Romo's approach.
"Gabe especially has taught me so much that I never even knew about defense, and I keep learning every day," she said. "Things as simple as holding your line in the back or knowing when I can and when I can't step, learning to be more physical and all the small details of defense that you don't really think about, I didn't learn about them until I got to this level."
One facet of her game has not changed, however. She, like most defenders, said she loves to do the dirty work in the backfield. A good example: Against CSUN earlier this season, K-State's defense was beat, including goalkeeper Emma Malsy, when Green sprinted her way back into the play and slid to deflect what looked to be an easy goal out of bounds in an eventual 0-0 tie.
"That's my favorite part of the game, honestly," she said. "I love covering for people. I love running extra than I would need to and covering more space on the field. That's kind of how I like to play the game.
"We all take pride in doing the dirty work in the back and letting our forwards shine, and that doesn't (negatively) affect any of us. We like doing that and we like helping our team out."
Green said the play of K-State's backline should be crucial in helping the team take a step forward in conference play.
"This year, we've shown that we have the depth, we can score the goals," she said. "So, I think that makes it even more important for our backline to get as many shutouts as we can to give our team an opportunity to win."
Players Mentioned
M
/ Soccer
D
/ Soccer
GK
/ Soccer
D
/ Soccer
M
/ SoccerK-State Soccer | End of Season Recap
Thursday, November 20
K-State Soccer | Reece Walrod Every Minute Played
Tuesday, November 11
K-State Soccer | You Make The Face, I Make The Sound
Tuesday, November 11
K-State Soccer | Postgame Highlights vs Iowa State
Friday, October 31
