Player: Kristen Hamilton

Kristen Hamilton is used to making immediate impacts. During her freshman year of college, the Littleton, Colorado native started in all 22 games for the Denver Pioneers tallying up 7 goals, which included 4 game winners. After that impressive first campaign, Hamilton became a force for the Pio’s. The eventual Hermann Trophy semifinalist would go on to score 44 more goals over her next three seasons while becoming Denver’s all-time leader in points with 138. She led her squad to the round of 16 in the 2012 NCAA tournament, and is one of 25 players in all divisions to register 30+ goals with 20+ assists. O, and she did all of this while holding a 3.7 GPA.

Her WAC Player of the Year and First Team All-American status are just some of her countless awards and honors that landed her as the 36th pick in the NWSL Draft to the Western New York Flash. But the almost invincible Hamilton, who started all 88 games of her college career, suffered an ACL tear in preseason training last season. Now, she is back to contributing to the Flash offense appearing in six games while adjusting to the NWSL. Hamilton’s college coach Jeff Hooker said Hamilton is a “truly special player who has the true ‘it factor’ [and is] one of the best all-around athletes our program has ever seen. She’s one to keep an eye on … she has the capability of doing some great things in her post-college soccer career.” Here are 18 questions with speedster and WNY Flash forward Kristen Hamilton!  

1. How old are you? 23.

2. How did you get into soccer? I really wanted to be like my neighbor and he played, so I asked my mom to sign me up.

3. What is one skill you think every player needs to cultivate?  Honestly, just being able to pass and trap a ball perfectly every time. 

4. Who were your soccer heroes growing up? Who my age doesn’t say Mia Hamm?? She was a huge influence on me playing soccer along with Brandi Chastain. Now my favorite player is probably Megan Rapinoe for women’s soccer and on the mens side I love watching Messi of course!

5. What has the transition been like going from College to the NWSL?  I would have to say the speed of the game. It was definitely a shock at how much faster the game is in the NWSL and that was the hardest part for me at first. Everyone had a perfect first touch, could pass the ball on a dime and never stopped giving 100 percent. You add all those things up and it makes for a definite increase in the speed of play.

6. What was your "Welcome to the NWSL" moment?  Our first game this season we played Seattle and lost 5-1. At that moment I knew this wasn’t going to be easy and that we were going to have to work that much harder to get to the top.

7. Who has been the toughest player you've gone up against?  Hmm that one's hard… I would have to say Kristen Edmunds.

8. What's your best asset on the pitch?  My speed as well as my ability to turn players in the box.

9. What advice would you give to younger girls who dream about playing professional soccer? That anything is possible that you put your mind to. It definitely isn’t an easy road; it takes hard work and dedication but it’s all worth it when you make it. 

10. What is your greatest moment on the pitch?   My junior year of college winning in overtime vs Maryland to send us to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in DU history.

11. What was your worst moment on the pitch?  Tearing my ACL in my first pre-season game with the WNY Flash.

12. How did you get past this moment? At the moment it happened I knew moping and dwelling on the past wasn’t going to change anything so from then on just looking forward. I knew I had a year to rehab before next season so I put my mind to it and made it happen. 

13. What are your goals for the rest of the seaon? I would like to consistently be in the starting lineup and then help propel my team to a playoff berth and hopefully a championship win.

14. What music does the WNY Flash bump before games? We listen to a lot of dance and rap music.

15. Where does your motivation come from while your playing? My teammates. Each and everyone of them motivates me to be the best player I can be at all times.

16. What do you value most in your teammates? Their support on and off the field...and all their crazy personalities! 

17. What other sports and activities do you enjoy when you're not playing soccer?  I like playing frisbee fishing, swimming, basically anything outside, bowling, and just enjoying time with friends.

18. Where will we see Kristen Hamilton in 5 years? Playing soccer depending on where my career takes me. If that doesn’t work out then I’d like to be in the house flipping business.