Q & A With Junior Forward Ashley Pernicano
10/7/2005 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 7, 2005
Junior forward Ashley Pernicano, a San Diego California native, continues to use her veteran leadership to help provide an offensive spark for the Spartans. She has started in all 13 games this season, recording 4-3-11 totals, to date.
Pernicano assisted the game winner in State's opening match against BU, Aug. 27 and scored a goal and had an assist in 2-0 win vs. Pacific on Sept. 3. She recorded a helper against JMU on Sept. 9 and then scored winning goal the next day, in MSU's 2-1 overtime win over SLU. Pernicano scored her third goal of the season on Sept. 4, at IU.
"All of our forwards have specialties that we aim to capitalize on," said head coach Michele Madison. "We look for AP (Ashley Pernicano) and Michelle Huynh-Ba to run our front line."
Last year, Pernicano came up with the Spartans' biggest goal of the season, scoring the game winner in the Green and White's 3-2 win over rival Michigan (Nov. 14, 2004) in the NCAA Tournament, sending State to the Final Four, for just the second time in school history. Her achievements in the classroom made her a member of the Academic All-Big Ten Team in 2004.
After practice the talented junior took a minute to share her take on this year's season.
Q: Why did you choose to go to Michigan State?
A: "I chose MSU because they have a really good field hockey program. I love the school. It's really pretty and it's a change from California."
Q: What are your plans after college?
A: "I actually don't have any plans. I'm majoring in merchandise management, but I don't know what I want to do.
Q: What can you say about this season and your successes?
A: "We are always pretty successful. This year is a little different, we have had some struggles. We have to work together; there aren't so many individuals."
Q: How is this year's team different then last year's team?
A: "Last year I think it was more of an individual effort, V (Veerle Goudswaard) obviously was our top scorer. I think now that we are all learning our roles, we are each participating and doing what we're supposed to do and that's how we win."
Q: What's the hardest thing about being a student-athlete?
A: "Trying to manage your time."
Q: When you graduate, what do you want people to remember about you?
A: "I don't know what I want them to remember me by... but I think they're going to remember me as the quiet girl."
Q: Now that you're an upperclassman, how has your mindset changed on the field?
A: "You have to take more of a leadership role. On the field you have to talk to the younger players and make sure they know what they are doing."
Q: You've mentioned if you could have any job, you would be an actress. What actress would you be?
A: "Charlize Theron."
Q: How would you describe your play on the field?
A: "I've been told that I'm a finesse player. I don't know, sometimes it doesn't look like I'm trying hard, but I really am."
