Girls soccer: Conestoga’s Paige Kozlowski is Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week

Kozlowski, a senior defender for the Pioneers’ girls soccer team, was named the Central League’s Most Valuable Player as Conestoga captured the league title. A first team all-state pick and three-time first team All-Central League selection, she has been the Pioneers’ MVP and captain each of the past two seasons. An excellent student, she has committed to the University of Massachusetts, where she plans to major in sports management with a minor in classics.

Q: What to you has been the highlight of your Conestoga soccer career? Can you share with us your most vivid memory of that experience?

A: The highlight of my career, without a doubt, was winning the Central League championship this year. It was a team goal for my four years at Conestoga and to have finally accomplished it my senior year was satisfying. From the beginning of the season, as a team we focused on winning the league and worked hard. My most vivid memory is the game against Radnor. We knew that it was a must win and Radnor always plays us tough. We had heard that Radnor had fast girls up top yet our back line was able to stop them. With about two minutes left, I played the ball to Katelyn Perz, who dribbled around Radnor’s back line to score a second goal and secure the win. From an individual perspective, earning the MVP of the Central League and making the All-State team was also a highlight.

Q: What, to you, was the most memorable play of the season? Can you describe the unfolding of the play, and your role in it?

A: As a defender, I cannot pinpoint one play because I am usually not involved in scoring. However, I remember sending the ball over Downingtown East’s back line in the first minute. Rachel Dirico finished the ball off a header. We were up in the first minute, something that motivated us for the rest of the game.

Q: What do you think is the strongest part of your game? What aspect of your game are you currently working on the most?

A: I think the strongest part of my game is getting forward on the sides. I love getting involved in the attack. I am currently working the most on balls out of the air.

Q: You plan to play soccer next fall for the University of Massachusetts. What attracted you to this school? Were there other schools in the running?

A: I knew I needed to pick a school that I would like, even without the soccer. UMass offers a great sports management program and I wanted a large school. The soccer coaches and girls really made me feel welcome and a part of the team. They also like to get their outside backs involved. I looked at a variety of other schools, yet UMass seemed to be the right fit for me.

Q: Your past academic record is pretty impressive: National Latin Award in 2011, 2012; in 2012-2013, you took AP US History; Honors American Literature; Honors Pre-Calculus; Honors Chemistry; Honors Latin 4. What is your favorite current subject, and why? What do you think you’d like to major in? Is there a career path that currently interests you?

A: Thank you, my academic success is important to me. Last year I was inducted into the National Honors Society so my hard work has paid off. In addition to the courses you’ve noted, I’ve also taken AP Language and Composition, AP Psychology,AP government, AP Environmental Science and AP Statistics My favorite current subject is Latin. I have an inexplicable affinity for the language and think it is interesting how the language relates to English. It has also helped to improve my writing. I am planning to major in sports management with a minor in classics.

Paige Kozlowski’s favorites

Book: Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand.

Author: Nicholas Sparks.

TV show: Grey’s Anatomy.

Pre-game pump-up song: Every Rose Has Its Thorn, by Miley Cyrus.

Athlete: Olympic runner Sanya Richards-Ross.

Historical figure (past and/or present): “I am a history fanatic. My favorite historical figure is John F. Kennedy. I admire his charisma as a person and he also possesses a calmness during difficult times. I also admire Ernest Shackleton. He was an explorer in the early 1900s who traveled to the Antarctic. No one had ever done this before, so I greatly admire his courage, strength, and sense of curiosity about the world.’

Team: Boston Red Sox.

Place to visit: “I went to Italy this summer and absolutely loved it.’

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