Marist’s Gina Czochara lives for the moments when it’s her with the ball closing in on the opposing goalie.
If you let Czochara get the chance to do what she does best, good luck stopping the senior forward.
“I think what makes me a good goal scorer is taking advantage of the opportunities,” Czochara said. “When I see that ball getting up there, I know I’m going to do this. I try not to overthink it.
“I also just love scoring goals. It’s the fun part of the game, and it’s why we play the game. You score goals to win.”
Czochara had a lot of fun last season, scoring a program-record 28 goals. She’s looking to top that this spring for the RedHawks, but she’s also trying not to think too much about that.
“I obviously want to score as many goals as I can for my team again this season,” she said. “But one of my main goals is just to really enjoy my senior season and take in all the moments and all the challenges that come our way.”
Marist coach Chris Roe knows Czochara presents plenty of challenges of her own for anyone who tries to stand in her way.
“She’s definitely been putting the work in,” Roe said. “She just brings a different aura. She expects a certain level for herself and her teammates. She does not let anyone off the hook.
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“We use her as an example. We say, ‘If you’re going to play against her, you better be ready. And you might want to wear your shin guards.'”
Czochara has many new teammates around her. While Marist’s seniors attracted some attention last season from opponents, Czochara knows the spotlight will be fully on her this spring.
And she’s ready for it.
“Last year, I heard some people yelling, ‘Watch No. 2,'” Czochara said. “But that just motivates me even more. I like knowing there are people out to get me. It keeps me pushing along.
“If there’s nothing motivating you, there’s nothing to keep striving for. I think it’s important to have a little bit of that pressure as well as I work toward my goals.”
Senior midfielder Alexis Shackelford, an Illinois Wesleyan recruit, said Czochara makes everyone around her better for the RedHawks.
“She definitely boosts our confidence a lot,” Shackelford said. “She gives a lot of opportunities and opens things up for other players.”
Czochara followed in the footsteps of her older brother, Alex, when she started playing soccer at age 8. She tried several other sports along the way, but soccer always stood out.
“I started with gymnastics — that’s kind of where my flip throw comes from,” Czochara said. “I played volleyball and basketball and did a little cheerleading. Soccer is the one I always enjoyed the most.
“I like to move around. In soccer, something’s always happening and you’re always moving. Soccer has been a way for me to relieve stress and it’s the sport I always came back to.”
Czochara has already done some warming up for this season as her Galaxy Elite club team spent part of the winter traveling to warm-weather sites and competing in the National League Pro competition while qualifying for this summer’s national championship event in Orlando.
Of course, she first plans to do plenty for the RedHawks this spring. Roe, for one, is excited to see it.
“She’s not afraid to put the team on her shoulders, whether it’s leading in scoring or drawing people away from her teammates,” Roe said. “She’s a very smart player. She understands where the next move is. She’s thinking two moves ahead and knows how to create space for herself or another player.
“It’s an awesome thing to watch.”
Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.