Taking a lead role on a soccer team at a new school wasn’t enough for Park Center senior Mollie Monson. She also decided to kick for the Pirates’ football team.

Monson, all-state honorable mention as a defender at West Lutheran last season, converted one of three point-after attempts in the Pirates’ season-opening victory on Aug. 22 at Richfield. She followed up with a perfect 6-for-6 performance in Thursday’s game against Bloomington Kennedy.

Monson spoke with Star Tribune reporter David La Vaque about deciding to play football and dealing with the nerves and elation she felt during her first game.

 

Q: How did football get on your radar?

A: During soccer tryouts, one of the football coaches came over and he and [soccer coach] Raul [Garcia III] asked me to kick a football. I think we started somewhere around the 20-yard line and the farthest distance I made it from was 35 yards. The next week they asked me to join the team.

 

Q: Was it tough getting permission from your parents?

A: It took my mom a little while, but my dad was all for it. He said, ‘Don’t hold back potential.’ I didn’t get an official yes from my mom until Monday the week of the game.

 

Q: How much opportunity did you get to practice kicking a football before the first game [Aug. 22 at Richfield]?

A: Not as much as I would have hoped to. Kicking a football compared to a soccer ball is so different.

 

Q: What were your impressions of being part of a football team?

A: I didn’t know what to expect, but I had a good time. I get treated very well by players and coaches. The guys respect me. I’m a girl, but I’m just another player.

 

Q: What did you think of watching football from the sidelines?

A: It is fast-paced. As soccer players we always made fun of football players because in soccer you’re not always stopping. We have plays in soccer, but it’s nothing compared to football. So I’m really glad to be getting this experience.

 

Q: How were you feeling when you trotted out there to kick the first time?

A: Very nervous. I was hesitant because I don’t know that much about the football cues and when it’s your turn to go in. When I got out there I was just praying, ‘God, please help me. I do not want to screw this up. I know it’s only an extra point, but it means a lot to me.’ I was so nervous. But the coaches and the guys told me, ‘You got this.’

 

Q: And then your first two extra-point attempts were blocked.

A: Yeah, we talked about it at halftime and we made blocking adjustments on the line.

 

Q: What did it feel like to put that third attempt through the uprights?

A: I was super excited. I didn’t know if I was supposed to run off the field or what. I was getting a lot of handshakes.

 

Q: Will the football experience be a benefit to soccer?

A: That’s a good question. Being on the sideline taught me a lot of patience. You have to be calm and cheer on your teammates.

 

Q: Have you ever done something similar in soccer where you’re trying to make a shot from a particular spot?

A: We had a game about a week before the football game where I had a free kick from about 35 yards out. Raul told me to shoot for the crossbar and I shot the ball right over the goalkeeper’s hands for a goal.

 

David La Vaque