Dedicated Stewart Steady in Net For Young Wolverine Defense
10/4/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
One look at her parents and it's easy to see where the junior netminder learned these qualities. Her father, Doug, has traveled to each one of his daughter's college games, working six days a week during the off-season and longer hours during the soccer season to accumulate the extra time necessary for weekly journeys from Topsham, Maine, to wherever the Wolverines are playing.
| | Stewart |
Stewart believes the starting role and more time in goal is less stressful than being alternated throughout games. "It's just a different mindset," Stewart said. "I have confidence that I can get the job done."
Stewart's performances this season have only reinforced her confidence. She has been sensational in Big Ten Conference games, posting a 5-0-1 record with two shutouts. In the six conference games, Stewart has allowed just three goals on 27 shots for a .889 save percentage and 0.48 goals against average.
Michigan assistant coach Scott Forrester, in charge of working with the goalies, commented, "Carrissa wants to be number one, she wants to do the job for her teammates." And the results have come as the Wolverines have opened the season 8-2-1 and ranked No. 16 by the NSCAA, while Michigan's 5-0-1 Big Ten start has it in first place in the conference.
Stewart, who is the backbone of a defense which features a sophomore and three freshmen, handles the pressure well and is improving game by game, according to Forrester. In addition, Stewart often takes the pregame pressure off the young defensemen and her other teammates. "There are times before a game when the team is getting ready to play and she's a bit of comic relief," said Forrester. "It breaks the tension."
While Stewart has come into her own this season, surfacing as an All-Big Ten candidate, her success should not come as a surprise. She was voted the team's Most Improved Player in 1997 and her career totals of 25 wins, 15 shutouts and 3366:14 minutes played are all the second-highest totals in school history. Before the end of the season Stewart should easily own the school records for victories (26 by Jessica Jones) and minutes (3896:16, also by Jones). These are major accomplishments in her career, but breaking records is not her number one priority.
"Truthfully, I don't pay attention to my records," Stewart said. "My goals are for our team to do well and for me to be focused on every game."
Stewart came to Michigan with an impressive list of credentials. A scholar and star athlete at Mount Ararat High School, she received two All-State (1995 and '96) and three All-Eastern Maine (1994, '95, '96) selections. She was also a member of the Maine Olympic Development Program (ODP) for five years (1993-98) and became the first player from Maine to compete at the regional ODP level. In 1997, Stewart was selected to a Region I under-17 team which competed in China.
However, she says the highlight of her career was when the Wolverines won the Big Ten Conference championship in 1997. "When I got to play I was so excited," she said, "and then winning was the most incredible feeling."
Both the academic and athletic programs drew Stewart to Michigan. "Academically and athletically, it's an amazing school. You can't beat Michigan, it just balances out perfectly," said Stewart.
Stewart, an organizational studies major, hopes to take her soccer performances to even higher levels. "I'd love to make the national team," Stewart said. "It always has been a goal of mine."
And with her dedication, don't count her out. "She's only going to continue to get better," said Forrester.
Contact: Jay Levin (734) 763-4423
