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Women's Soccer Alumni Spotlight
June 22, 2017 | Women's Soccer
Former Cardinal standout Jen Avila is this week's featured alumnae
LOUISVILLE, KY - The alumni spotlight for this week features former Cardinal midfielder, Jen Avila. Avila played for the Cards from 2004-06 and was a true playmaker in the midfield. The native of Naperville, Illinois, originally from Vallejo, California, came on to campus as a winner after her Illinois ODP team won a national championship in 2003.
As a freshman, Avila made an immediate impact, playing in 17 games while starting in 14 . She scored her first collegiate goal on a penalty kick against Xavier, in overtime, for the game-winner. She did not lose her flair for the dramatic as the season went on, scoring another game-winning penalty kick against Southern Miss less than two weeks later. She was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team at the end of the season.
During her sophomore campaign, Avila was one of six players to start all 19 games for the Cardinals. That season she ranked fourth on the team in points (7) and was tied for third in assists (3). She continued her flair for the dramatics as well, setting up a game-winning goal against Providence and then one week later scoring a game-winning goal off of a corner kick against Georgetown. The next week she followed that performance up with the game-winner against Villanova.
In her junior season she continued to shine under the bright lights. While starting all 20 games that year, she tallied five goals and two assists. In the Cards' national television debut, Avila tallied a pair of goals including the game-winner over Cincinnati. That season she also picked up the game-winning goal against Big East rival Syracuse.
While shining in big moments on the field, Avila always found time to be an impeccable student. While studying psychology and justice administration, she was a regular member of the AD honor roll, the Dean's list, and a Red and Black Scholar and during her junior year. She was also named a Big East Academic All-Star.
Having a player like Avila is crucial to any successful team. She was a type of player that when the lights shined bright could step on the field and keep their composure and when the opportunity to change the game presents itself, they take over and help their team win. Avila exemplified what it meant to thrive in the big moment under pressure and that is how she has left her mark on the soccer program at the University of Louisville.
As a freshman, Avila made an immediate impact, playing in 17 games while starting in 14 . She scored her first collegiate goal on a penalty kick against Xavier, in overtime, for the game-winner. She did not lose her flair for the dramatic as the season went on, scoring another game-winning penalty kick against Southern Miss less than two weeks later. She was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team at the end of the season.
During her sophomore campaign, Avila was one of six players to start all 19 games for the Cardinals. That season she ranked fourth on the team in points (7) and was tied for third in assists (3). She continued her flair for the dramatics as well, setting up a game-winning goal against Providence and then one week later scoring a game-winning goal off of a corner kick against Georgetown. The next week she followed that performance up with the game-winner against Villanova.
In her junior season she continued to shine under the bright lights. While starting all 20 games that year, she tallied five goals and two assists. In the Cards' national television debut, Avila tallied a pair of goals including the game-winner over Cincinnati. That season she also picked up the game-winning goal against Big East rival Syracuse.
While shining in big moments on the field, Avila always found time to be an impeccable student. While studying psychology and justice administration, she was a regular member of the AD honor roll, the Dean's list, and a Red and Black Scholar and during her junior year. She was also named a Big East Academic All-Star.
Having a player like Avila is crucial to any successful team. She was a type of player that when the lights shined bright could step on the field and keep their composure and when the opportunity to change the game presents itself, they take over and help their team win. Avila exemplified what it meant to thrive in the big moment under pressure and that is how she has left her mark on the soccer program at the University of Louisville.
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