Women's soccer Axt leads the nation in goals, points
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Published: 10/21/2011 |
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Women’s soccer forward Axt cuts down competition, leads NCAA in points, goals
It is common to see kids start playing soccer as early as five years old or sometimes even younger. Jessica Axt was not one of them. Despite not playing the sport until the seventh grade, she has become one of the nation’s leaders in goals and points and a four-year standout playing forward at the Milwaukee School of Engineering women’s soccer team.
Entering this week of competition, Axt leads the nation in four categories. She stands alone for points per game (3.73), goals per game (1.733), goals (26) and points (56). As Axt's collegiate career is coming to an end, no one, including her, would have thought that this year would be so special.
The records continue to roll in for Axt as she has already broken the MSOE single season record for goals which was set by sophomore Paula Bohl in 2010. Axt entered 2011 as the career leader in MSOE history for goals and continues to extend that mark as she has 73 goals in 73 games. She now owns the Northern Athletics Conference record for career goals and points.
Last season, Axt was named Second Team All-NAC and earned First Team All-NAC honors during her freshman season in 2008.
After playing soccer in middle school, she went on to play on a very successful Germantown High School squad that went on to lose in the Wisconsin State High School Division 1, Section 7 final. During that season, Axt was used primarily as a back-up to starting forward Jamie Janczak, another Germantown player who went on to become an MSOE Raider.
Both Axt and Janczak have gone on to be good friends and even better teammates, both elevating their game at the collegiate level. Although Axt is currently tops in the nation, Janczak is also near the top of the nations’ leader board as well, ranking sixth in the nation in assists (11) and tenth in assists per game with a 0.73 per game average.
“I never pictured myself playing college soccer, “Axt said. “When I started playing in college, I wanted to do well, but I never thought I would play this well.”
Head coach Rolf Zersen knew four years ago when he recruited Axt that she could be a very good player.
“I saw the potential in her when she came in but now she is a complete player,” Zersen said. “She plays hard and never stops, even when things aren’t going right. Her will to succeed and to win drives her.”
One thing is certain about Axt; becoming the leader in the nation in goals scored was not her main goal. She first came to MSOE to pursue a degree in Biomedical Engineering, but two years into the program, she switched to Bimolecular Engineering, working with cell cultures and currently interning at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
Axt believes that her success as well as the team’s success belongs to the team; giving credit to her senior class.
“We have a group of eight seniors playing this year and we have been playing together for four years,“ Axt said. “We play every game like this is the last time we are going to play and we are going to show you that we are the team that is going to beat you.”
Axt also credits the six freshmen that have solidified the lineup.
“This year, it’s been good to see how we seniors have progressed from our freshmen year to now and having all the new freshmen come in and working together has been special.”
Zersen also believes that Axt is a special type of player.
“She has worked very hard all four years and has really progressed nicely each year,” Zersen said. “Many times a player accepts who they are and how they play. Jessica never did. She worked constantly to be better and she is the first to ask questions so she can be better and help her team.”
Axt is looking forward to finishing out the 2011 campaign strong.
“As a team, our goal is to win conference and play in the NCAA Tournament,” Axt said.
With a solid core of players and teammates around her, Axt and the Raiders are set for a strong run down the home stretch of the regular season with plans of making a run at the NAC tournament title which would earn the Raiders a berth into the NCAA Championship.
“She has developed into a quality forward that is very dangerous in the attacking third,” Zersen said. “She has the killer attitude that a forward should have but is also very unselfish and often looks to pass. She is a very mature soccer player and a great teammate. I am very proud to have gotten to coach her.”
