Kindzierski kicking her way to stardom

   Known to her team as “BK”, senior forward Brittany Kindzierski has grown in her four years of playing soccer at UTEP, dominating with her skills on the field.

“I have become so much more confident as a player from when I first started my freshman season,” Kindzierski said. “I came in scared and did not play very much. Thankfully I was able to improve and it is all thanks to our dedicated coaching staff, and the girls on this team. They give me that confidence for my game and their support just keeps me pushing on the field.”

Coming in as a shy freshman, Kindzierski is now one of the top attackers and ‘best all around players’ in Conference USA. Last season alone, the Canadian native played in all 23 games of the 2011 season, scoring a total of nine goals, and ended the season with a shot-on-goal percentage of 38.5.

Kindzierski was also on the 2011 C-USA All-Tournament Team, and is both a two-time C-USA Offensive Player of the Week and a two-time C-USA Academic Honor Roll Member.

In comparison to past and current UTEP soccer players, Kindzierski is in ninth place for career game-winning goals at six goals and in 10th place for total goals made with 22.

Approaching her senior season, Kindzierski, who is known for her fast feet and tight control on the ball, is ready for another year of competitive play and hopes to bring home the championship title.

“Looking at how strong the team is this year, I want to go to conference and I want to be in that final game,” Kindzierski said. “That is my biggest goal and with the team’s hard work, great communication, and just by us keeping focus we have what it takes to get there.”

By staying dedicated to her training and playing as much possible, Kindzierski has consistently improved her fitness and game mentality. Both her teammates and head coach Kevin Cross look to her as a leader, both in the locker room and on the field.

“She just has so much passion as a player, she lives and breathes soccer,” Cross said. “She loves soccer and it is with that passion that she leads this team. She is the type of player who looks forward to practice and never wants to miss practice. Soccer is in her blood.”

Having played soccer since she was about seven years old, Kindzierski hopes to keep soccer as a main focus in her life even beyond graduation.

“I really want to be a coach,” Kindzierski said. “So my plan is to go back to Canada, get my masters in coaching, get all my licenses and hopefully get into the Canadian national program with coaching.”

Kindzierski and her fellow teammates currently hold a 4-2 record in non-conference play. The Miners will compete in the Third Annual Border Shootout against Weber State then Sam Houston State, Sept. 7 and 9 respectively, at University Field.

Audrey Westcott may be reached at prospector@utep.edu.