Each athlete aspires to be the play maker on the field. No matter what position they play in or what role they serve, every athlete wants to leave their mark on the field.
Motivation for that can come from anywhere.
For junior forward Kirstin Robertson, the motivation, or rather the reminder of that motivation, comes from a message written in sharpie on her wrist.
Before every game, each individual member of her team writes something on their wrist(s) that means something to them. “A lot of us write something on our wrist before games to remind us what we want to do,” said Robertson. “Change the game” are three words that can be found upon the wrist of the junior striker.
The 13-letter message has been Robertson’s driving force this season, and it is propelling her and the team to a strong standing on the season and in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Robertson attributes her personal challenge of changing the game to her resilience on the field and refusal to quit. A shining example of Robertson’s initiative is a goal she scored when the Lady Govs faced their biggest test of the season, a road trip to Texas Christian.
Ultimately, the game ended in a 4-1 loss for APSU. Despite that, Robertson followed through on a play to score APSU’s lone goal of the game. The striker opened up an opportunity on a play while trailing TCU 3-0, and managed to steal the ball from keeper Courtney Hofer and slide it into the net.
Robertson blasted a game winning goal in the first two games of the year, plus three more later on and is now embarking on an ocean of success.
Success in sports, and in all aspects, is a process.
It takes an athlete a while to master their craft. Years of practice are all a part of the process to becoming elite. For Robertson, soccer has always been present.
“I was 6 years old [when I started], but it feels like my entire life,” said the junior.
Robertson started playing soccer along with her brother, and continued with the sport as she grew.
Robertson played through her academic career, which included playing soccer at Harpeth Hall in Nashville, Tennessee.
Robertson won a State Championship her senior year with Harpeth Hall and was named Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association 2013 Division II AA Middle/East Region MVP with 27 goals before coming to APSU.
At the moment Robertson has 10 goals on the season. Combined with three assists and 23 points, the Cheatham County native has been extremely effective for the Lady Govs.
Robertson’s 10 goals now have her tied for 16th in the nation.
Robertson’s accomplishments in soccer, both before coming to APSU and now, shows how she strives in a competitive environment, and that fight to be the best is a natural drive.
“I’m almost competitive,” said Robertson on what drives her.
She jokingly added that she might be too competitive, but that fire in her play brings success to her individually.
Throughout her 2016 season, Robertson’s success has awarded her the adidas® OVC Player of the Week on three separate occasions. The first came after Robertson scored the game winning goals against UAB and Alabama State.
The second award was Robertson adding three goals to her resume over a weekend with games against TCU and UT Chattanooga.
The third award came after Robertson had two goals and two assists in one weekend against UT Martin and Southeast Missouri.
Amongst all the personal and team success, Robertson has one main goal this season, to win the Ohio Valley Conference.
Robertson leads the conference in points and points per game while being tied for first in goals.
The Lady Govs have found success in conference play while jumping out to a five game un beaten streak, but currently sit at sixth in the conference following a couple draws and losses.
Robertson has scored three goals and tallied two assists in the conference this season.
Add 6 points to her resume and she serves as a focal point for the Lady Govs success.
“Last year as an offense as a whole we couldn’t click, but now we are firing on all cylinders,” Robertson said. Championships aren’t typically won by the best team, but by the team that peaks at the right time.
Robertson and the Lady Govs are hitting their stride deep in the schedule, and with the OVC tournament on the horizon the team looks to carry their success over the next few weeks.
Three games remain for the Lady Govs in the regular season, so Robertson is slowly being limited to opportunities to change the game, but what lies ahead is what she and the team have been working and striving towards.
