Women's Soccer Spotlight: Christine Exeter
March 14, 2013 | Women's Soccer
March 13, 2013
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Christine Exeter, a rising senior forward for the U of L women's soccer team, travelled halfway across the globe fulfilling one of her lifelong dreams while training and playing alongside her childhood soccer idol.
Exeter, a native of Pickering, Ontario, Canada, began playing soccer at the age of six. Like many young athletes, Exeter had dreams of playing for her native country and found inspiration and motivation from an older, more accomplished athlete. Little did Exeter know she would get the opportunity to learn and play with her childhood hero and represent Canada at the same time.
In January 2012, Exeter's dream fulfillment began with the opportunity to travel to China and compete with the Canadian women's national team in China.
"To me, this was a chance of a lifetime," explained Exeter. "It was an absolutely amazing opportunity. I was about to travel 18 hours across the world, experience a different culture and play soccer internationally."
After a 17-hour trip to Shanghai, China, and an adjustment period to acclimate to the large time change, Exeter and the Canadian women's national team began training. Two weeks of intense training were made easier as Exeter had the opportunity to shadow and learn under her childhood idol, Christine Sinclair. A 13-year veteran of the Canadian national team, Sinclair has appeared in three World Cups, two Olympics and is a bronze medalist.
"Not only was this trip an experience of life time, it was also a dream come true," said Exeter. "I had the opportunity to train along-side someone I've been idolizing my entire soccer career."
Exeter's trip to China inevitably came to an end and she returned to Louisville to continue her studies and career as a Cardinal. Exeter had the opportunity of a lifetime and will remember her two weeks in China forever.
"This was an eye opening experience for me," she said. "I had the opportunity to see what it takes to play at the international level. I got to be a part of a different culture and I had the opportunity to train and shadow one of my idols. China was an amazing experience that I will never forget."
Exeter is a 2011 NSCAA Third Team All-American, was the 2011 BIG EAST Conference Offensive Player of the Year, was a 2011 First Team All-BIG EAST selection and was selected as 2010 BIG EAST Rookie of the Year. She is currently studying towards a degree in biology and hopes to pursue dental school following soccer.
