Post by Scott Crawford on Apr 23, 2013 9:43:06 GMT -6
KREIS GETS KICK OUT OF SOCCER - MANDEVILLE STANDOUT STARTED EARLY
Times-Picayune, The (New Orleans, LA) - Thursday, February 3, 1994
Author: JILL R. DORSON St. Tammany bureau
It seems it was destined that Mandeville center midfielder Ashley Kreis would play soccer .
Her career began in an Omaha, Neb., YMCA league when she was 4-years-old, but four years before she was even born, her family had begun what would become a long-time association with the game.
"My parents had never heard of soccer until my brother, Andy, came home from playing with the neighbor kids outside and said, 'The boys next door are signing up for soccer , can I do that?' " Kreis said. "(My parents) said, ' Soccer ? What's soccer ?' "
Four children and 21 years later, Hulva and George Kreis have become familiar enough with soccer to have coached their four children - Andy, Jodi, Jason and Ashley - in recreational leagues.
Ashley, who has scored 15 goals and has 11 assists for the Skippers this season, is the youngest Kreis and will likely be the third to play in college. Andy played at the Air Force Academy and Jason, who also played for Mandeville, is a center halfback at Duke. Ashley is considering Alabama, Auburn, Furman, Quincy (Ill.) and St. Andrews (N.C.).
Ashley says much of her knowledge of the game came from Jason, who is 21.
"Probably my biggest soccer hero is my brother," Ashley said. "He taught me a lot when I was little. And when he comes home and watches me play, he tells me what I need to do."
Jason's advice and a lot of hard work has put Ashley in the upper echelon of girls soccer players in Louisiana. She is the catalyst on the Mandeville girls team and she plays year-round with the Baton Rouge United Under 19 Defeaters.
"She teaches," Mandeville coach Ken Mathews said. "Even during a game, she exercises a lot of control about the ebb and flow of the game. She's unselfish. She is just as happy to have the assist. When we go in for halftime, I give my observations and criticisms, then I let her take over."
Ashley doesn't necessarily see herself as having that much control in a game, but she does realize that she and Tiffany O'Meallie - who also plays select soccer - have a responsibility to teach and encourage the Skippers.
"First and foremost, my job is to be a leader," Ashley said. "We start eight seniors. I think I can be a leader and give encouragement. Some people say to me, 'You're so good.' And I say that I can always get better."
Playing high school soccer for Mandeville, which finished first in District 5-I and begins state tournament play Tuesday, is something of a compromise for Ashley.
"It can be frustrating going from people who are on my level to adjust to 11 totally different people," she said. "I would definitely never not play high school. It's more about school pride and it's more of a relaxed atmosphere . . . I guess I get a different kind of satisfaction. (Mandeville) has come so far in four years. In select, it is satisfying to know that my friends will get (college scholarships)."
Mathews is aware of the transition that Ashley must make each season when she takes a break from the hour-long commute to Baton Rouge to play for the Skippers.
"Sometimes when someone has that much skill, they become uncoachable," Mathews said. "Thankfully, she's not like that. She will do anything you ask her to do."
Mathews says Ashley's strength is her shooting and her knowledge of the game. Since the Mandeville team is built around Ashley, Mathews admits that playing without her would not be easy.
"I think the team can overcome a bad game from Ashley," Mathews said. "But they would sorely miss her if she wasn't there at all. She has had bad games and the team has picked her up. We would need to change the dynamic if we didn't have her."
Ashley Kreis describes herself as dominant, caring, active and intelligent. She has a 3.8 GPA and is involved in Student Council, Honor Society, Tri-Theta, Key Club and the M Club. She also played basketball until last year - she stopped to devote more time to soccer .
"Being at school from 7 a.m. to sometimes 7 at night," Ashley said, "I was getting sick a lot. I would go to school, practice, eat dinner and study. I just got sick and tired of being sick."
Ashley's experience in soccer has allowed her to travel, and she has grown - as a player and a person.
"I know what I can do and what I can't do," Ashley said. "Usually when I start dishing it (comments) out, I do it to myself, too.
" Soccer is a time for fun and it's relaxing. It keeps me in shape. Ninety-five percent of the people I know are from soccer . It teaches me a lot about time management, pressure and dealing with different personalities."
Times-Picayune, The (New Orleans, LA) - Thursday, February 3, 1994
Author: JILL R. DORSON St. Tammany bureau
It seems it was destined that Mandeville center midfielder Ashley Kreis would play soccer .
Her career began in an Omaha, Neb., YMCA league when she was 4-years-old, but four years before she was even born, her family had begun what would become a long-time association with the game.
"My parents had never heard of soccer until my brother, Andy, came home from playing with the neighbor kids outside and said, 'The boys next door are signing up for soccer , can I do that?' " Kreis said. "(My parents) said, ' Soccer ? What's soccer ?' "
Four children and 21 years later, Hulva and George Kreis have become familiar enough with soccer to have coached their four children - Andy, Jodi, Jason and Ashley - in recreational leagues.
Ashley, who has scored 15 goals and has 11 assists for the Skippers this season, is the youngest Kreis and will likely be the third to play in college. Andy played at the Air Force Academy and Jason, who also played for Mandeville, is a center halfback at Duke. Ashley is considering Alabama, Auburn, Furman, Quincy (Ill.) and St. Andrews (N.C.).
Ashley says much of her knowledge of the game came from Jason, who is 21.
"Probably my biggest soccer hero is my brother," Ashley said. "He taught me a lot when I was little. And when he comes home and watches me play, he tells me what I need to do."
Jason's advice and a lot of hard work has put Ashley in the upper echelon of girls soccer players in Louisiana. She is the catalyst on the Mandeville girls team and she plays year-round with the Baton Rouge United Under 19 Defeaters.
"She teaches," Mandeville coach Ken Mathews said. "Even during a game, she exercises a lot of control about the ebb and flow of the game. She's unselfish. She is just as happy to have the assist. When we go in for halftime, I give my observations and criticisms, then I let her take over."
Ashley doesn't necessarily see herself as having that much control in a game, but she does realize that she and Tiffany O'Meallie - who also plays select soccer - have a responsibility to teach and encourage the Skippers.
"First and foremost, my job is to be a leader," Ashley said. "We start eight seniors. I think I can be a leader and give encouragement. Some people say to me, 'You're so good.' And I say that I can always get better."
Playing high school soccer for Mandeville, which finished first in District 5-I and begins state tournament play Tuesday, is something of a compromise for Ashley.
"It can be frustrating going from people who are on my level to adjust to 11 totally different people," she said. "I would definitely never not play high school. It's more about school pride and it's more of a relaxed atmosphere . . . I guess I get a different kind of satisfaction. (Mandeville) has come so far in four years. In select, it is satisfying to know that my friends will get (college scholarships)."
Mathews is aware of the transition that Ashley must make each season when she takes a break from the hour-long commute to Baton Rouge to play for the Skippers.
"Sometimes when someone has that much skill, they become uncoachable," Mathews said. "Thankfully, she's not like that. She will do anything you ask her to do."
Mathews says Ashley's strength is her shooting and her knowledge of the game. Since the Mandeville team is built around Ashley, Mathews admits that playing without her would not be easy.
"I think the team can overcome a bad game from Ashley," Mathews said. "But they would sorely miss her if she wasn't there at all. She has had bad games and the team has picked her up. We would need to change the dynamic if we didn't have her."
Ashley Kreis describes herself as dominant, caring, active and intelligent. She has a 3.8 GPA and is involved in Student Council, Honor Society, Tri-Theta, Key Club and the M Club. She also played basketball until last year - she stopped to devote more time to soccer .
"Being at school from 7 a.m. to sometimes 7 at night," Ashley said, "I was getting sick a lot. I would go to school, practice, eat dinner and study. I just got sick and tired of being sick."
Ashley's experience in soccer has allowed her to travel, and she has grown - as a player and a person.
"I know what I can do and what I can't do," Ashley said. "Usually when I start dishing it (comments) out, I do it to myself, too.
" Soccer is a time for fun and it's relaxing. It keeps me in shape. Ninety-five percent of the people I know are from soccer . It teaches me a lot about time management, pressure and dealing with different personalities."