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James Madison University - Index

James Madison University - Madison Magazine - Summer 2009 - Index

DUKESTURF
Excelling out of her comfort zone and time zone
JMU Female Athlete of the Year makes Canadian National Team By Carrie Klamut (’10)
There are moments in a person’s
life that are etched
into the heart and will
remain a part of one’s
identity for years to come.
Although these moments
may occur spontaneously, they have usually
been anxiously anticipated since
childhood. They are dreams — dreams
that come true. JMU
women’s soccer player
Christina “Corky” Julien
saw her longest-awaited
soccer dream-come-true
this spring when she
was asked to try out for
the Women’s Canadian
National Team playing
for the Cyprus Cup, an
international soccer tournament
in Greece.
“The most memorable
moment of my life came just
before kickoff, when I pulled on
the Canadian jersey,” says Julien, a
native of Williamstown, Ontario.
“That had always been one of my
lifelong dreams.”
The opportunity for Julien’s
dream come true took place on a
Sunday night not unlike any other
dreaded end of the weekend. She
received a phone call from the national
team’s assistant coach asking her if she
could join them in Los Angeles for a series
of training and tryout sessions. Earning a
spot on the team would mean traveling to
Europe to train. The decision did not take
long. Three hours later she was boarding a
plane destined for the West Coast.
“I arrived at 1 a.m. Pacific Time but did
not fall asleep until 3 a.m., basically because
I was too nervous for any calming body
position,” says Julien.
Julien headed with the other athletes to
Rome, Italy, and later to Greece to train.
Her international experience rose to an
entirely new level when she worked out with
coaches who did not speak English. “Every
drill and every discussion had to be translated,”
she says. Once in Greece Julien’s
team took straight to the practice fields and
moved quickly into round-robin play.
With a mix of countries comes a mix of
cultures. “The New Zealand squad performed
the Haka,” says Julien. “Their starting
lineup and the leader of their team lined
up in front of our starting lineup and continuously
stomped and screamed while staring
us down for five minutes.”
The Canadian National Team was eventually
defeated in the championship game,
earning second place in the
tournament. “I was sad in a way
Christina “Corky” Julien helped the Women’s
Canadian National soccer team take
second place in the 2009 Cyprus Cup, an
international tournament in Greece. Julien
was the 2008 Virginia Co-Player of the
Year, CAA Player of the Year and one of
three JMU Female Athletes of the Year.
SEPT. 12 at Maryland
SEPT. 19 vs. VMI
SEPT. 26 at Liberty
OCT. 3 at Hofstra*
OCT. 10 vs. Richmond* (Family Weekend)
OCT. 17 vs. Villanova* (Homecoming)
OCT. 24 at William & Mary*
OCT. 31 at Delaware*
NOV. 7 vs. Maine*
NOV. 14 at Massachusetts*
NOV. 21 vs. Towson*
because it had come to an end,” says Julien. “I
was overwhelmed with a mosaic of feelings.”
Yet from every ending comes a new
beginning, and Julien’s play on the field has
certainly undergone some improvements. “I
now realize I had to go out of my comfort
zone to get better. It was a learning experience.
I certainly was not the best, but I have
played with some of the best,” she says.
Her teammates agree.
“She got to compete against some of the
best players in the world,” says
JMU teammate Rachel Chupein.
“I think getting to see firsthand
how they approach the game is
going to help her become a more
dynamic threat,” says Chupein
of the reigning Colonial Athletic
Association Player of the Year.
Her coaches are also excited to see
her perform so well at the this level.
“It was an amazing opportunity for
her to get that kind of recognition,”
says Dukes coach Dave Lombardo.
“There is some validation as a coach
that you have a good program; when
kids reach that level it can mean you
might be doing something right.”
Two more of Lombardo’s players,
Kim German and Ariana
Ruela, earned their way onto international
squads. Germain, a fouryear
starter in midfield, was invited to travel
with the U.S. Under-23 National Team to
Ireland in May. Ruela played for the Portugal
Under-19 National Team in a qualifying
event for the European Championship. M
2009 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Please check JMUSports.com
for the most up-to-date times
and information regarding
Duke Club, tailgating and
parking details.
Listen to Dukes Sports Center
Mondays, Wednesdays and
Fridays on MadiZONE.
*CAA GAMES
JMU TEAM PHOTOGRAPH BY CATHY KUSHNER (’87); CANADIAN TEAM BY AMY GWALTNEY (’11)/THE BREEZE
SUMMER 2009
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