Molly Curry is one of the three captains on this year’s St. Bonaventure Bonnies Women’s Soccer team. The 21-year-old from Ransomville, New York attended high school in Wilson, NY where she began the journey to becoming a Division-1 soccer player. Curry, a senior accounting major, was asked a few questions in my exclusive interview with her this week.
Q: What made you choose St. Bonaventure University? What other schools were recruiting you?
MC: I chose “Bonas” because there were many overwhelming reasons that sold me on becoming a Bonnie. The second I stepped on campus, I felt like a found a second home. The small, beautiful campus, and small class sizes enticed me even more. Obviously having the opportunity to play Division-1 soccer was a huge selling point as well. The team was so welcoming to my family and I. Their love for Bonaventure was so obvious and contagious that it spread to me.
Q: You scored 8 goals last season, which tied for the team lead and 5th in the Atlantic 10 Conference. What are you doing this season to repeat the statistics that you put up last season as last year?
MC: Unfortunately due to my injury that I suffered early on this season, chances of repeating last year’s stats aren’t in my favor. However, I’m just going to focus on making the team and myself better. Everyday I just look to make a difference. I play my role as a captain. Whether that means getting an assist or just playing a solid game, it’s all about winning as a team. No matter what my role is I’m going to give it my all and leave it all out there. The pressure is high on us as our team heads into the last games of the regular season. We are all just trying to push each other in practice and pull each other through tough games to get the resists regardless of the stats.
Q: How do you feel about the team’s chances this year as you head into the home stretch of the conference schedule?
MC: I feel great about our chances. I have so much faith in our team to get the job done. When our backs are up against the wall, we persevere. The drive right now to succeed and win is at an all time high. We want it bad. It is contagious. Our team is a special group of athletes. We are there for each other everyday, no matter what. My teammates are always there to tell the rest of the team and I to get back up when we’re down. They expect and know you can perform at the highest peak.
Q: Do you have any plans after you graduate from St. Bonaventure?
MC: After college, I’m hoping to coach again. Probably not in the near future, but I would absolutely love to share my knowledge and love of the game with other girls and inspire them to follow their passion for soccer, no matter where they are from. My dad was such a big part of my soccer career, including being my first coach, so I would love to be the same, positive influence on my kids as he was to me.
Q: What is the best part of playing a Division-1 sport so close to home?
MC: Playing so close to home is honestly my favorite part of being able to play for the St. Bonaventure Bonnies. I have such an amazing family. They come to as many games as possible. A huge reason I chose “Bonas” was that it was within a good distance for my parents to come to games. Turns out my parents haven’t missed a single game home or away for all of my four years. As you can tell, distance isn’t an issue. It is quite amazing and speaks volumes on how supportive they are. Having my entire family (sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles) at my games gives me such a boost. Coming from such a loving family makes me feel lucky every time they get to watch me play.
Q: As a captain, what do you tell your team to motivate them or to get them out of a slump?
MC: Usually I just try to lighten the mood as best as possible by being up beat and positive. If we are in a slump, I try to find all positives from that day and focus on those in an attempt to not dwell on the negative. My usual go to motto is “just have fun.” It is a relaxing and motivational quote for our team and allows us to just play the game we all have loved for so many years. It is not the most serious motivator but it is the truth. Winning is fun, so when we play with heart and passion, I have no doubt we will always have fun out there.
Q: Obviously your team’s goal is to win the Atlantic 10 conference. What do you and the rest of the team have to do to get to that pedestal?
MC: In order just to make it to the A-10 tourney we will have to play every game like it’s our last. We play our game based on passion, spunk and intensity. Every game day, it’s all about believing we can win. Everyone’s past records and scores no longer matter. Each game we go in with the mentality that we will win this one game and then focus on the next. In the tournament, it is crucial to focus one game at a time. If we step onto the field with confidence and play our best, all around game of soccer, there won’t be any regrets. We are one team working toward becoming the tradition.
Michael Loffredo 