Sept. 21, 2006

As part of this season's expanded women's soccer coverage, TarHeelBlue.com will sit down each week for a short interview with one of Carolina's top-ranked student-athletes. This week, TarHeelBlue had a chance to talk with starting midfielder and 2005 first-team freshman All-America Yael Averbuch.

THB: Like last year, this season has gotten off to a strong start, but how have things been different for you now having already gone through one season of college soccer?

Yael: This season has been a lot easier for me in many ways, but there are also some new challenges. It was great coming into pre-season and our first games knowing what to expect and being comfortable with our style of play and the intensity of college soccer in general. But now the expectations for me are much higher and I have a bigger role on the team, so there are still things to get used to.

THB: The ACC schedule kicks off with Florida State who got the best of you in a shootout last season. Has it been one of the team's goals to get a little revenge on the Seminoles?

Yael: I think that our final game of last season against Florida State has been in the back of all the returning players' minds during every practice and every game we've had this season. We definitely all remember the terrible feeling after that game, and it's a feeling we never want to have again. It's great that we can play them so early in the season this year and I know our team is incredibly pumped for the game.

THB: The FSU is being televised live on Fox Soccer Channel. Does knowing that you are on a national stage get you a little more excited for the match?

Yael: The fact that the game is on TV does add a little extra pressure, but the excitement was definitely there already.

THB: Speaking of TV, you have already made one appearance on the tube this year for your goal against Yale. How cool was it to make SportsCenter's Top 10 and get so much national attention?

Yael: Honestly, I was not expecting the goal to even make it onto SportsCenter. I was shocked. It was pretty exciting to watch myself on there, though. And the funniest thing was that a bunch of people contacted me who I haven't talked to in years to let me know that they saw it.

THB: Shifting away from soccer for a bit...you grew up in New Jersey. How is Chapel Hill, and North Carolina in general, different from life in Jersey? Any aspects of home that you miss?

Yael: Actually, Chapel Hill isn't that different from Northern New Jersey. I definitely do realize that I'm in the South, though, when I'm driving. People are so much less aggressive down here! Besides missing my family and friends from home, I guess the only thing I really do miss are good bagels (sorry, North Carolina but New Jersey bagels are definitely better).

THB: Other than the soccer field, where is your favorite place to be in Chapel Hill and why?

Yael: Wow, that's a hard one. I would have to say my apartment. I live with Sterling Smith and Mandy Moraca and we have a lot of fun. There is hardly a moment when we aren't laughing about something.

THB: What kind of plans do you have after your soccer playing career is over?

Yael: I want to play soccer for as long as I possibly can. When my career is over I want to begin coaching. I did some coaching this past summer and really enjoyed it. But the bottom line is I just can't imagine my life without being involved in soccer.