Imagine being a Division I women’s soccer player, a forward if
you will. You dribble down the field to attack the net.
Suddenly, all you can hear is the barking of the opposing
goaltender, and a staunch midfielder slides into you and takes the
ball away in a split second.
Welcome to the nightmare Billiken opponents have been forced to
face all year in the combination of Amanda Martin and Kim
Sinclair–the anchors of a Billiken defensive powerhouse.
Sinclair, the aforementioned midfielder, and Martin have been a
force for the Billikens’ women soccer team as the team has recorded
nine shutouts on the season. Those shutouts have resulted in all of
the wins for the Billikens, whose record now stands at 9-3-1. That
calculates to a remarkable shutout percentage of 69.23 for the
ever-solid Billiken defense.
Martin has been spectacular in goal this season.
She has been the glue that holds the defense together.
“She provides encouragement as well as direction on the field at
practice and in the games, which is very important to do as a
keeper because she is the last person back,” said Sinclair about
her teammate.
Her teammates feed off the energy, which she brings to every
game. The intensity and passion she displays on the field is
unparalleled by opponents; by teammates, however, it is
different.
Sinclair is in her first season as a starter, even though she is
a senior.
“I think she has played incredible, out of her mind…the way
she plays in practices and games makes our team step up their level
of intensity,” said Martin.
It is that kind of strong play that allowed Sinclair to be
recognized as defensive player in Conference USA for the week
ending Oct. 3.
These two performers have more than just their intensity levels
in common.
Both players transferred to SLU from other universities.
Sinclair started her career at Murray State before coming back home
to play at SLU. Martin, on the other hand, was at the University of
Arizona before she transferred to play closer to home. The
Billikens would not be playing near at their current level if it
were not for these two transfer students.
Both girls have been pleased and impressed with the overall play
of their teammates up to this point.
“Nobody knew what to expect out of our team in the beginning of
the year because we were utilizing a totally new lineup on defense
except for Kara Kornfeld,” said Sinclair.
and put together a great team that few expected to be playing as
well as they are.
Martin was quick to compliment the defense in front of her when
asked about her play this year.
“I feel that the defense in front of me has played incredible,
therefore, making my job of keeping the ball out of the net,”
Martin said.
When asked about her personal play, Sinclair emphasized her
dedication to the program, and how she is now reaping the
benefits.
“I’ve worked very hard to get where I am now and every second of
it feels rewarding,”said Sinclair.
Unfortunately for the Billikens, they do not have much time left
to enjoy these players putting on a show with their skills night
after night. Sinclair is a senior, and Martin is a junior, which
leaves only one season with this combination for the Billikens.
Sinclair is a marketing major and hopes to be successful in the
field of sales post-graduation. She aspires to coach soccer or
basketball on the high school level.
Martin on the other hand is a communications major with an
emphasis in public relations.
She hopes to attend graduate school for public relations and
progress in that field any way she can. With the heart and
determination these women show on the field, there is no doubt in
any Billiken fan’s mind that they will be successful in every
endeavor they experience off of it.
Both players have lofty aspirations for the remainder of the
season.
Sinclair has stated her desire to see the team continue to gel
and win the Conference USA tournament.
Martin hopes for the same, but she has some other goals for this
talented squad.
“We are working very hard to be the regular season C-USA
champs… and are determined to make the NCAA tournament this
year,” Martin said.
With a solid defensive core constantly keeping opponents off the
scoreboard, spearheaded by these two mainstays, the Billikens
surely have many games to play once their regular season is
over.
