For freshman forward Jennie Krauser, leading her team on the points board through the season’s first four games was never an expectation or a goal. In fact, the Irvine, Calif. native’s focus has been consistent ever since she fell in love with N.C. State’s campus a year ago. 

“I don’t actually go into a game thinking I want to score the most goals,” Krauser said. “If you go into a game thinking you want to be the only one scoring, it’s not going to happen. Winning is more important.” 

With nine goals and 13 assists during her career for a Woodbridge High School team that is a perennial underdog, along with leading her local club team to a national championship in 2006, Krauser brings in an outstanding resume that matches her talent and work ethic. Needless to say, last season’s leading scorer Kara Blosser has taken plenty of notice to their similarities on and off the field. 

“I swear were like sisters,” Blosser said. “I can tell that she wants it just as bad as I want it. That energy with her coming in as a freshman, getting points early and proving herself… that’s really cool.” 

Although the two play different positions, they have much more in common than just being players who started making major impacts their freshman year after coming in from outside of North Carolina. It is the determination and focus that Blosser constantly displays that has helped shape Jennie into a regular starter and future leader of the team. 

“The confidence that Kara has is such a key role,” Krauser said. “If you don’t think you are going to beat a player when you go one-on-one with them, you won’t. She never backs down, and that is important to have as a soccer player.” 

One of the main reasons that Krauser decided to look at a school nearly 3,000 miles away from her hometown was the similarity in how her club team played and how State takes on opponents. It also didn’t hurt that her dad is a Georgia Tech graduate who competed in and then later coached wresting in the ACC. 

“My dad tried not to influence my college decision, but I really wanted to to go an ACC school,” Krauser said. “I came here last summer and visited the campus for my first time and fell in love with it. I never expected to come here, but once I met the team and met the coach, I knew I wanted to commit right away.” 

For Krauser and the rest of her teammates, the road ahead appears daunting with conference play set to begin at Clemson on September 23rd. Despite only earning two victories in the ACC last season, Krauser said she believes that their team-first mentality will carry them a long way. 

“We go out there with the same mentality every game,” Krauser said. “Play as hard as we can and if I score, I score.”