Senior Spotlight: Lissi Lonsberry
Oct 21 | Women's Soccer
DALLAS (SMU) - As Lissi Lonsberry concludes her final season with the SMU women's soccer team, the senior strives for greatness in her last few games with the Mustangs.
Lonsberry, a native of Southlake, Texas, has played multiple roles for the Mustangs throughout her career, excelling as the ultimate team player.
"I want to be an impact player, to be the senior offensive player that the team looks up to," Lonsberry said. "Hopefully we can get a good amount of goals in so we can advance to conference and then we can take it game by game."
The senior has made 14 starts at forward for SMU in 2015 and has recorded four assists. When Lonsberry gets in the game, she brings a high level of skill that puts pressure on opposing defenses.
"I don't let my player beat me, and I don't let the mental aspect of it overcome my passion for the game," Lonsberry said. "I'm always reminding myself to fight for your teammates and make them work hard if you're working hard and be the example."
As a junior, Lonsberry took on her toughest task, filling in as goalkeeper at the collegiate level. The Mustang performed admirably making eight starts and leading the team in wins with five. She earned two shutouts against Colorado State and Texas Southern.
The Mustang senior said that some of her favorite memories happen during the spring season where the team prepares for the fall campaign.
"We go through hell and back together and we always pull for each other and that's when you really feel the true bond with your teammates," Lonsberry said.
The senior's favorite pro athlete is Michelle Akers, a two-time World Cup Champion and former member of the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team.
"I watched a documentary of her when I was 10, and it always stuck with me because she's one of the most well-respected, hard-working players," Lonsberry said.
Lonsberry plans to go to nursing school to become a nurse practitioner after she graduates from SMU. One of the things she will miss is being with her teammates every day.
"I've been on a team my entire life and to walk away from that is going to be one of the hardest things I know I'm going to have to go through," Lonsberry said. "Even when I'm done this year, I know I'm still going to have their support so I'll always be a part of the team and that's a really encouraging feeling to have."
Lonsberry and the Mustangs have two regular season matches left before the American Athletic Conference Tournament starts. SMU is on the road at Temple Thursday at 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT in Ambler, Pennsylvania.
