Her appearance is unintimidating off the field, but freshman forward Stephanie Bronson is a major force in the game. With a team-leading six goals and 14 points, Bronson is already a major contributor to the success of the women’s soccer team–and the season is only halfway over.
A graduate from Leesville Road High School, where she led the team to two successive state championships in 2008 and 2009, Bronson has wasted no time in showing her prowess at the next level.
Coach Steve Springthorpe feels Bronson has exceeded expectations after coming onto the team and has already proved to be an important asset.
“She has played with a lot of intensity and a lot of enthusiasm for the game. She has earned her opportunity to start by coming in and being fit,” Springthorpe said. “She has brought energy and excitement to our team; she plays hard and she plays at the 100 percent level all the time.”
Springthorpe said he had expected Bronson to acclimate from high school to the college level with ease.
“You never expect a freshman to come in and make that type of a impact right away; sometimes there’s a learning curve with how to play the game at this intensity,” Springthorpe said. “To Stephanie’s credit, she has gone onto the field and has played all out; she’s not scared, she’s not afraid to go after the ball and she has done a good job of finishing the opportunities given. If you look at her shot output, she doesn’t get a lot of shots, but the ones she has been getting around the goal have a tendency of finding the back of the net.”
Bronson was very motivated and felt proud of what she has achieved so far.
“It’s really exciting,” Bronson said. “Especially as a freshman in the ACC. It’s a big feeling of accomplishment.”
After seeing Bronson score goals in four straight games, it was just natural that opposing defenders would start taking note of her. Bronson, however, feels that there are two sides to every coin.
“It’s good and bad,” Bronson said. “While you feel happy to be noticed for your performances, you have more pressure on you; it’s harder to do what I like to do because there are more people attacking me.”
While she leaves everyone feeling dazed with her pace and skill on the field, Bronson showed that she was only human when quizzed on what her biggest challenge has been since coming to college.
“It’s definitely more time consuming and tougher,” Bronson said. “Academics and soccer are both harder in my opinion.”
Senior forward Tanya Cain, who has been Bronson’s partner in crime on many occasions for the Wolfpack this season, admitted that Bronson was a special player and had qualities that the team needed the most prior to the season.
“I think she’s a very aggressive player and a goal scorer. She basically brought a whole new end to our offensive attack that we haven’t had in the past,” Cain said. “She’s a go-getter and has knack for finding the goal; she’s the team leader in scoring right now. It goes to show that she can get the job done for us, and that’s what we need.”
Cain also pointed out that her never-say-die attitude was one aspect that stood out as one of Bronson’s most impressive qualities.
“She never gives up. She is always going,” Cain said. “If she loses the ball, she is always after it again. She’s just always working hard. That’s nice to see.”
