June 24, 2012
Mykines' Career Statistics 
Highlights: Gonzaga | Toledo | Colorado | Michigan State (regular season) | Michigan State (BTT) | Penn State
Uncommon Achievement encompasses five stories on the Illinois soccer senior class and their impact on the 2011 season. Each member was integral in Illinois' 17-5-2 season, which included a Big Ten Tournament Championship and the most wins in a single year in program history. Each had to overcome a variety of tests or challenges, doing so in order to help secure one of the most successful seasons in school history.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - With the four leading scorers - and six of the top eight - from 2010 returning - the Illinois soccer attacking unit was expected to be a dynamic, explosive and experienced group in 2011. However, senior forward Marissa Mykines was not among the top four as a junior, during which she started up front and played nearly 1,600 minutes.
Totaling six points - all coming on assists - Mykines needed to return to her goal-scoring ways as a senior if the Illini were going to make 2011 a season to remember.
"You never know going into a year how it will turn out as so many things can go right or wrong and everything depends how you deal with them," Mykines said. "As a senior it's almost a feeling of desperation. It's your last year to basically accomplish anything and everything you haven't already."
Mykines, at 5-foot-3, relied on speed and the ability to shift in and out of openings most players could not in order to be a threat on the attack. At most points in her four years of college soccer, the Spokane, Wash., native was the fastest person on the field in a footrace to a loose ball. Even dribbling, Mykines was known to outpace a marking defender that underestimated just how quickly she could move.
"I like to attack all the time and run at the defense," said Mykines in explanation of her approach to the game. "I love going one-vs.-one because it is always a challenge, and with that, I try to make other players around me dangerous as well. I use my speed and quickness, not my size, as an advantage."
This advantage paid off immensely as the Orange and Blue attack opened the season with one of the strongest starts in program history. During 5-1 drubbings of Gonzaga and Toledo to open the season, Mykines recorded a goal and two assists against the Bulldogs before adding another tally vs. the Rockets.
Two games into the year - in only 163 minutes on the field - Mykines had already matched her previous season's points total of six.
"Her impact grew with her confidence throughout her career and you saw that culminate in a senior year where her contribution was significant to our team success," said Illinois head coach Janet Rayfield when discussing what Mykines accomplished in her final season with the Orange and Blue.
Even with opponents having three full years of scouting material on Mykines, she would not be held back during her senior campaign. In the end, Mykines finished the season with 19 points on eight goals and three assists. Those numbers more than doubled her career tallies, as Mykines concluded her time at Illinois with 14 goals and 13 assists, totaling 39 points.
"As a senior it felt great," said Mykines when reflecting on the stats she posted in 2011. "You always want to be able to help your team be successful in any way possible. Mine just happened to show more statistically. It was easy to be productive when you have talented players around you. They make me look good."
More important to the season that her sheer points total was Mykines' ability to come through with timely performances against conference opponents.
Four minutes into a Big Ten Network-broadcasted, double-overtime contest at Michigan State on Oct. 8, Mykines received a long pass from sophomore midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo 40 yards away from the Michigan State net. Mykines proceeded to out-pace the entire Spartan defense to remain untouched in her attacking run - blasting a shot by All-American goalkeeper Jill Flietstra to secure the win.
Already with a single-season career-high 12 points, Mykines again fired up the offense with the opening goals during a pair of weekend victories at Northwestern, 3-0 and Nebraska, 3-1 as Illinois secured the No. 2 spot in the conference standings.
However, what truly cemented Mykines' place in the Illinois record books was a stellar Big Ten Tournament run, as the Orange and Blue secured the second conference title in program history.
During the semifinals on Friday, Nov. 4, against a familiar opponent in No. 3 seed Michigan State, the two sides again played to a scoreless draw through regulation.
However, Mykines didn't need until double-overtime to send the Illini out victorious this time.
In the 92nd minute, the Mead High School graduate controlled a pass from junior forward Shayla Mutz 20 yards from the Michigan State goal. With her back to the play, Mykines spun to her right off of Spartan defender Annie Steinlage and started to dribble across the top of the box. After sidestepping two more MSU players while maintaining possession, Mykines found the opening she needed.
With a powerful cross-body shot into the lower-left corner, Mykines sent the Illini into the Big Ten Tournament Championship Game.
Two nights later, facing their toughest challenge of the season in No. 1 seed and No. 11 nationally-ranked 
Penn State, Mykines was undaunted in the challenge and provided the resolve needed to break through early against a Nittany Lion defense that only allowed one goal against in the first 10 minutes of any contest all season.
Six minutes into the game, playing into the wind, Mykines controlled possession and dribbled down the right sideline. Poking the ball ahead to herself as she was challenged by a Penn State defender 25 yards from goal, Mykines sprinted to the endline to meet the ball only a few feet before it would have rolled out of bounds.
Unchallenged now, Mykines crossed the ball to classmate Julie Ewing in the center of the Penn State box. Ewing ran onto the play and drilled a shot into the lower-right corner for the 1-0 lead en route to the eventual 2-1 overtime victory.
"Our expectations for Marissa have always been high," Rayfield said. "And with the training she put in I think her confidence grew, with the success that came with that it soared and she was able to truly impact our Championship run in the Big Ten Tournament and end her career on the high note she had put her mind to back in January."
Eleven months later, already a second team All-Big Ten honoree as decided upon by the conference coaches, Mykines' performances in Evanston, Ill., against Michigan State and Penn State secured her the Big Ten Tournament Offensive MVP and a spot on the Big Ten All-Tournament Team. A few weeks later, she capped her career with a nod from the national soccer committee with a spot on the NSCAA All-Great Lakes Team.
"I was a little surprised to be recognized by the Big Ten since it is such a talented conference, but we were recognized as a team first and then individually, which was always our strength." Mykines continued. "I had confidence in our team, which allowed me to be confident in myself."
