Nov. 4, 2003
KB: The Big Ten Tournament starts this Thursday. How is the team feeling going into the tournament?
PF: I think we are ready to go. Our "disappointing" win against Butler is going to help us refocus. I think just coming into the end of the regular season we weren't thinking about everything. Now we are focused and ready to play.
KB: Your only goal this year came in a 1-0 victory over Michigan State and set an Illinois record for fastest goal scored. The team is pitted against Michigan State in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. What does the team need to do to beat Michigan State?
PF: We actually spent some time on Saturday talking about it. We just went over how they play and how we were going to stop them.
KB: Last year there were a lot of upsets in the Big Ten Tournament. For instance, the #7 seed (Ohio State) won the tournament and you guys, as the #8 seed knocked off #1 seed Penn State , do you think it is easier to be on top of the rankings or the underdog?
PF: I think for us it's going to help be on top because it will give us confidence that we didn't have last year. Last year we went in hoping, but this year we have confidence that we will do well. Also, I think that all the teams have learned from last year that the seeds in the Big Ten Tournament don't mean anything because all the teams are strong.
KB: As a freshman you appeared in all 21 games leading the team in assists. This year you have started in all eighteen games and are leading the midfield attack. As a sophomore do you consider yourself a leader on the team?
PF: As a midfielder you kind of have to be a leader because you have to dictate how play goes on both ends. Scoring and assist-wise, since there are three forwards playing up top together they have pretty much have that covered. The forwards work so well together, when they get the ball they are unstoppable.
KB: One of your goals after graduation is to travel as much as possible. If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go?
PF: I think I would go somewhere in Asia. I have never been there; I think it would be cool and my sister is from Korea, so I think it would be cool to go there with her and see what it is like.
KB: What is in your CD player right now?
PF: I am listening to a mellow mix that Tara Hurless made for me. I've really never heard of any of the songs before. It's just a mellow music that helps me relax and calm down. If we are traveling on the road I listen to mellow music when I don't want to focus too much, but right before the game I listen to music that pumps me up.
KB: Your nickname on the team is Diddy. Why do they call you that and who started it?
PF: Tiffany Walker gave me that name because when I first got here my freshman year she asked me what my nickname was. I told her that some people call me 'P' and she said 'that's not going to cut it, we are going to call you Diddy'. It just stuck and half the team calls me it now.
KB: You went to Burke High School in Virginia. Also from Burke H.S. is sophomore gymnast Justin Spring. Are you two friends?
PF: Yeah, we don't really hang out, but we are friends. I mean he will come to some soccer games and we'll go support gymnastics. When we see each other we always have something to talk about.
KB: In an interview earlier this year I asked Kelly Campbell about her roommates. You being one of them, I wanted to know if your answers compare. Which one of your roommates is the messiest?
PF: I would have to say Kelly is the messiest because she just leaves stuff lying around.
KB: The loudest?
PF: It depends, when Frankie (So. GK Rachel Frank) is on a rampage she is the loudest, but otherwise its pretty even. It gets pretty loud, I mean everyone participates in the noise.
KB: The mom of the house?
PF: Well first of all I think everyone thought I would be the mom of the house, but I have not lived up to that name. I think I would say Christine Rivera (Soccer player in 2002) is the mom of the house just because she is supportive of everything you do, but that doesn't mean she cleans.
KB: The nosiest?
PF: Oh that's defiantly Tara, but not in a bad way. Tara is always concerned with how you are doing and how your feelings are and always looking out for you. She just wants to know what is going on in your life just so she can make you feel better if something isn't going well.
