10 Questions with Wright State's Brooke McCurdy

INDIANAPOLIS--Every week www.horizonleague.com talks with a Horizon League student-athlete who exemplifies integrity and excellence in both the classroom and on their respective playing field. This week, Cam Fuller caught up with Wright State senior Brooke McCurdy. McCurdy and the Wright State women's soccer team have a date lingering with Milwaukee on Oct. 19, a team that's topped the Raiders in each of the last two Horizon League championship games.

Meet Brooke McCurdy
Grade: Senior
Height: 5’9”
Position: Goalkeeper
Hometown: Peterborough, Ontario
High School: Crestwood

2013 Season Highlights
-Named Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 30 and Oct. 7.
-Has posted four shutouts through 14 games.
-In 14 games, has 74 saves while sporting a goals against average of 1.07.

2012 Season Highlights
-Second Team All-Horizon League.
-Posted a 9-5-6 record in 2012 with a 0.65 goals against average.
-For the second straight season McCurdy led the Raiders to the championship game of the Horizon League Women’s Soccer Championship. The Panthers topped the Raiders 1-0 (2OT).
-For her efforts, she was named to the Horizon League All-Tournament Team.

2011 Season Highlights
-Started 20 games while posting a 1.46 goals against average.
-Had a record of 9-8-3 in the box.
-Led the Raiders to the championship game of the Horizon League Women’s Soccer Championship. No. 15 Milwaukee topped the Raiders 5-1.

2010 Season Highlights
-Started 14 games and made 86 saves.
-Named to the Horizon League All-Newcomer Team.

You have a date lingering at first-place Milwaukee on Oct. 19. Each of the last three seasons, Milwaukee has eliminated Wright State from the Horizon League Women’s Soccer Championships. Each of the last two seasons, the Panthers stopped the Raiders in the championship game. Is there any extra incentive for the game on Saturday?
Definitely! They are the team to beat. We are going to give everything we have so we can beat them. We are just going to have to come together and play our best game. We’ve had halves where we’ve came out a little flat. As long as we make sure we don’t do that and give it our all every minute of the game, it’ll be a good game.

The Raiders are off to a 2-1-1 start to League play, how would you describe the teams play through the first four League games?
We are doing really well. Like always you start off the season and it’s always a matter of working hard to get better every single game, which is exactly what I feel we are doing. Each game we are improving and getting better and fixing things that need to be fixed so hopefully we can get to the League finals and win it this year.

You were named the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week in consecutive weeks earlier this month, how exciting is it to be honored for your play?
It’s been pretty exciting but honestly I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my entire defensive line, it’s a collective effort between the five of us, so for all five of us it’s been exciting.

You hail from Peterborough, Ontario, what drew you to Wright State?
I first met Coach [Pat Ferguson] at one of the showcase tournaments and we got to talking and I looked at Wright State and it had my program which is computer engineering. I love the school, the environment and size of the school where it’s not too big, not too small. When I came here it just felt like it fit.

Not only do you play on the soccer team but you also throw the javelin for Raider’s outdoor track team. In fact, you have the school record of 39.49 meters. Talk about how you balance the two sports.
When I came on my first visit to Wright State that was one of my topics I brought up with Coach [Ferguson] and asked him if I'm allowed to do that and what it would take to do both sports. We talked with the track coach and I got in. I’ve been doing it for all three years. Soccer is my first priority, in the past when I had a free day off I would go in and train for track. This year is probably the first year where I’ll be training on a consistent basis for track. In the past it was just whenever I had a day off for soccer I would go in and train for track.

Where is the best place to get food around campus?
Tropical Smoothie. It’s definitely my favorite. My favorite food is the King Cesar wrap and drink is the Kiwi Smoothie.

Who is the funniest girl on the team?
Emilie Fillion or Ini Umotong. Ini has an accent; she’s from England so you know everything she says I find funny. Fillion always has a funny comment for everything. We also have a game on the bus we call iPod idol where my teammates sing with their headphones on but can’t hear themselves singing. It’s hilarious!

What made you pick the major you picked?
When I came into Wright State I liked computers, I needed to pick a major so I figured why not? I’ve loved it so far. I decided in my junior year to double major in computer science and computer engineering so I get both sides; software and hardware.

Who’s been your favorite professor in your time at Wright State?
Dr. Doom. He taught Digital Circuits. He was awesome, he was able to relate to the students on our level as opposed to just teaching the material.

This is your final year of eligibility, what are your plans after graduation in May?
I really want to play professionally somewhere in Europe. I’d like to play for a couple years, depending on how long my body will last, then come back to grad school back in the states for law school.