Jan. 27, 2010

BERKELEY - Danielle Brunache, a crucial member on the California women's soccer team, started all 21 games for the Golden Bears this season. Hailing from an athletic family and the Bay Area town of Belmont, Calif., Berkeley ended up being a perfect fit for Brunache. CalBears.com recently sat down with Brunache, whose teammates call her DB, to find out more about her on and off the pitch.

CalBears.com: What are you planning on choosing as a major? Why?
DB: I've decided to choose English as my major because the English classes I've take thus far have been interesting, and I've done well in them.

CalBears.com: You're from nearby Belmont, Calif. When you were in high school, did you think you'd stay close to home?
DB: Actually no. I wanted to go somewhat far away so that I could learn a new city and feel independent. I ended up loving Cal head and shoulders above all the other schools I looked at so it sort of negated my desire to go far away. I always joke with my parents that if I could pick up Cal and move it somewhere that's at least an hour plane ride away, I would.

CalBears.com: Your dad played soccer at Penn State, did that have any influence on you playing soccer? Was playing a sport at the collegiate level always in the plan for you?
DB: My dad's involvement in soccer definitely influenced my interest in the sport. It was something my dad and I could talk about and do together. Collegiate level soccer didn't cross my mind until my first ODP [Olympic Development Program] Regional Camp the summer going into my freshman year of high school.

CalBears.com: This season you played almost every minute of every game, how long did it take you to build up that kind of endurance?
DB: It took me the entire season. Every sprint, scrimmage, small-sided game, drill, and fitness test contributed to our fitness levels.

CalBears.com: Who has been your favorite professor at Cal?
DB: Not favorite professor, favorite GSI or graduate student instructor, which is like a teacher's assistant or TA. My instructor for my R1A class, which was a writing class, was hilarious. The topic was completely random - American Elegy - and she made it really interesting.

CalBears.com: If you had a time machine, what year would you travel to?
DB: May 16, 1986. That was my older brother's second birthday. I'm really curious to know what he was like as a toddler.

CalBears.com: Do you have any pre-game rituals?
DB: I put on my socks, shin guards and cleats in the same order every time.

CalBears.com: Mariam Azimi, the last person to do a Q&A for CalBears.com, wanted the next women's soccer player to answer: What is the best meal (while being edible) that you can cook?
DB: Fried chicken strips with homemade honey-mustard sauce. It was a hit with my roommates.

CalBears.com: What question would you like to ask the next women's soccer player who does a Q&A to answer?
DB: If you could choose your own name, what would it be?

To read this season's Q&A with the Golden Bears, check out the archive here.