Meghann Burke is good.
Actually that’s an understatement: she’s really good. In high school she was named Metro Goalkeeper of the Year, first team All-State, All-Metro, and All-Conference. In her freshman year the awards continued to pile up, Conference USA Freshman of the Year, All-Conference Second Team. Just last week she was named to the pre-season First Team All-Conference.
But the awards aren’t what make her good; the fact she’s not satisfied is what makes her great.
“My expectation is before I graduate is to win an NCAA Championship,” said Burke. “If you’re a Division I school, that should be what you play for.”
Burke admits that before the Billikens can begin making reservations at the Final Four, they need to make the NCAA tournament.
“I want to build on what we did last year,” Burke said.
“We won conference and then lost in the first round of the conference tournament. My goal this year is to make the NCAA and do well.
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Burke has taken steps this summer to push herself and her game to the next level. She spent the off-season in Colorado playing for a semi-pro team in the W League.
“The W League is the highest level of women’s soccer right now,” Burke said. “
The W League was mostly current college players and recent graduates. I got to play with some All-Americans and a lot of players from the Big Ten.”
Playing and training in the high altitude of Colorado and with some of the best players in the country has pushed Burke to another level of desire.
“Colorado was a good experience. It gave me motivation to come back here,” Burke said.
Training with elite athletes also gave Burke some insight into her training and what adjustments she can make to improve.
“Training with the best has shown me that I’m not far off,” Burke said.
Her main objective is be in the best physical condition possible; working in Colorado has started her on her way.
“I feel like I’m fitter. Being fit as a keeper is important to the team,” Burke said. “It helps your confidence when you’re fit.”
The Billikens should have plenty of confidence.
They have been voted to repeat as C-USA champions, but Burke is quick to point out that it’s just the pre-season.
“It’s nice to know Conference USA respects us, but in the end it means nothing,” Burke said. “The only thing that matters is what we do on the field.”
Things are falling into place for the Billikens. They’re a rare combination of youth and experience. Quite possibly the heaviest factor in the Bills favor is that the C-USA post-season tournament is being held on campus at Robert R. Hermann Stadium.
“It’s the best field I’ve ever played on,” Burke said.
“What more do you want? We’re hosting our own conference tournament. The odds are in our favor, we just have to do it on the field.”
