Off the Ball with Kara Gudmens
9/24/2008 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Sept. 24, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - From the moment she stepped on campus, Kara Gudmens was relied on as the primary starting goalkeeper for the Crimson Tide. Starting in 27 of 37 matches her freshman and sophomore seasons, the 5-9 keeper from Cincinnati, Ohio was well on her way to being a four-year starter at the Capstone. An injury though suffered in the spring before her junior campaign put a damper on those plans.
"I hurt my arm in the spring of my sophomore year, so not playing my junior year was tough," Gudmens said. "I guess the only advantage of not playing last year was giving it enough time to heal. It is good to be back and good to start playing again."
While sitting out for an entire season might have discouraged some, Gudmens' competitive spirit kept her going. With the uncertainty of a new coaching staff and the troubles associated with being sidelined for a season's worth of play, Gudmens could have easily folded the hand, cashed in her chips, and headed for the exit. But new head coach Todd Bramble recognized something in her that is an essential ingredient in being a successful goalkeeper.
"I think she has real enjoyment for the game and for competition," Bramble said. "Goalkeepers must have this quality, she likes pressure and she likes the environment."
With her grip on the starting goalkeeping job firmly reestablished, Gudmens is looking to build on the progress she made in her first two seasons, while adding to the cohesion of the experienced defense alongside Alex Butera and fellow Cincinnati native, Colleen Posey. As a veteran on the team, and especially the defense, Gudmens has embraced her leadership role and takes more responsibility in communicating with other players.
"She has accepted that communication as a goalkeeper and that is a huge responsibility for her back there," Bramble said. "But her, like everybody in our back line, has had to learn what our tactics are going to be, but she's caught on quickly and she's done a great job by being a vocal leader back there."
Quick to point out that there are still some holes in her game that she is working hard to fill, Gudmens remains confident that it will only be a matter of time before her game is where she feels it should be.
"When my game is on, I'm pretty good at making diving saves," Gudmens said. "Sometimes I judge the ball wrong or let one slip by on a breakaway and those are my weaknesses. My strengths are balls in the air, crosses and high balls." A sentiment echoed by Bramble as well.
"What has impressed me the most with her as a goalkeeper is her range to cover the goal as a shot stopper," Bramble said. "She does a good job and is reliable on making the routine saves, which a goalkeeper needs, and she has the ability to make those special saves where she pulls a ball out of the corner. That can really lift your team and be demoralizing for the opposition."
Her strengths were quite apparent this last weekend as she blanked Samford and Wright State. Against the Raiders Gudmens kept them out of the net for an entire 105 minutes. For her efforts she was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week, a career first for the junior goalkeeper.
As for whether or not defending her goal in Tuscaloosa feels more important than being scored against on the road, the answer is clear,
"I don't want to be scored on period," Gudmens insists. "That's my mentality going into every game."
