A Passion For The Game
October 02, 2007 05:18 PM | General
By Tim Goodenow for MSNsportsNET.com
September 23, 2007
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| Kim Bonilla |
Then passes bye senior Kim Bonilla and the chatter turns to a familiar subject – soccer. And for passionate soccer fans like Bonilla, there is no better time than when the World Cup rolls around every four years.
“I’ve been up early to watch some 4:55 (a.m.) World Cup games,” laughs Bonilla, knowing she has passed on several hours of sleep that most college students would relish. “And if I have class that morning and afternoon, I’ll have the TiVo set. This is a great time of year as far as I’m concerned.”
The sport of soccer seems to be an every day fixture in Bonilla’s life. She credits her father, Ed, for introducing the sport to her as a young child.
“I started a little bit later than some kids but began playing around age nine,” says the Dumfries, Va., native. “My dad is in the military and we moved around some. We lived overseas and then returned to the (United) States and lived in San Francisco. But I can remember watching my dad and my uncles playing and constantly talking soccer. That is where I really got my start, from my family.”
Bonilla’s time out West was short and the family moved to Northern Virginia, a placed she quickly discovered was a hot bed for soccer talent.
“We moved to Virginia and couldn’t believe the opportunities available for girl’s soccer,” notes Bonilla. “I got involved right away and played for a great club team. My mom and dad made a lot of sacrifices for me to stay with this team who was instrumental in my development as a player.”
Hundreds of games and thousands of practices later, Bonilla developed into a coveted Division I soccer player. She helped guide her PWSI Eclipse club team to three state championship matches and was a two-year U-16 national team player.
“I am very appreciative of the ODP team I played for. My interest level in soccer and their support opened a lot of doors for me.”
One door she walked through was that of the West Virginia University coaching staff. They took notice of Bonilla’s talent and love for the game and signed the talented forward in its 2004 class.
The adjustment to the collegiate level did not come easy, but something Bonilla would tackle very quickly. In many ways, she is the perfect Mountaineer player, a tireless worker and soccer junkie who overcame modest physical skills by working overtime.
“It was tough that first year,” says Bonilla, who missed the first three games of her rookie season. “I had another knee surgery and probably rushed coming back with my rehab. I learned a lot about my body, fitness levels and whatnot. But I knew what I had to do to get back onto the field.”
Bonilla played significant minutes in 37 games her first two seasons before breaking out for a stellar junior campaign last fall. She became one of the Mountaineers’ top goal-scoring threats and was named a third team all-BIG EAST selection. Bonilla led the BIG EAST with six game-winning goals and was tied for second in the conference with a WVU-best 12 assists.
Picking up where she left off, Bonilla has registered three goals and three assists in six games this season. When she isn’t sending balls into the back of opponent’s nets, Bonilla can be found scouting opponents or searching the Internet for soccer scores.
“I found the Penn State-Connecticut game on TV a few weeks ago,” says Bonilla on how she spends her free time. “I am constantly on the web looking for results across the country. But it’s not just college soccer, either. I like following men’s soccer, especially the talented professional teams overseas. ”
For Bonilla, she is in the midst of another chapter in a life filled with soccer stories. Through all the triumphs, there is perhaps more soccer in her future.
“I can’t see myself not playing soccer. I want to play as long as I can,” adds Bonilla. “I want to play professionally, I really do. For me, this isn’t the end. I’ve put so much into this game I love.”
Before she retires her No. 7 West Virginia jersey, there is plenty to accomplish in this final run with her Mountaineer teammates.
“I’m playing hard out there and having fun at the same time,” explains Bonilla. “We have a talented team and can win a lot of games. There is no going back and replaying any of these games. I’m not taking my senior year for granted, that’s for sure.”
