Sept. 28, 2010

BERKELEY - Each week, CalBears.com will feature a freshman women's soccer player, and this week's participant is midfielder Kate Bennett. A seasononed veteran of age-group national teams, Bennett began her time with the under-16 national squad and is now a member of the under-20 player pool. Off the field as a prepster, Bennett was the co-founder of Bellevue High School Microfinance Club, which is dedicated to helping individuals in the Dominican Republic become self sufficient. Cal head coach Neil McGuire called Bennett a known goal scorer who can also create a great deal of goal-scoring opportunities for others with her precision passing, tremendous field vision and the ability to play to a high level with both feet. The 5-4 native of Washington is also writing a blog for CalBears.com entitled Blog Date With Kate, and you can read it here. CalBears.com was lucky enough to grab some time with the busy Bennett to find out more about her.

CalBears.com: What made you chose Cal?
KB: I had no idea I wanted to go here at all until I visited the school and stayed overnight with some of the girls on the team. It sounds cliché to say, but I just got a good feeling about it. I knew it was a great school and had a lot of personality and diversity!

CalBears.com: What are your hobbies outside of soccer?
KB: I love art! I like animals, and I like to play the guitar!

CalBears.com: Do you have any unique stories about yourself that set you apart from your teammates?
KB: I am from Washington, and people make fun of me because I smile a lot.

CalBears.com: What's your favorite part about Berkeley and/or the Cal campus?
KB: There are so many cool trees to climb on campus! There have been a few days when Kathleen Messinger and I have spent a few hours hunting out new trees to climb. I love Yogurtland and the awesome feel of Telegraph!

CalBears.com: What is the best thing about being a part of Cal women's soccer?
KB: I love the girls on the team! It has been so helpful to have them show us the ropes, and it's nice to know people at Cal before school starts. All the athletic facilities and people who work here have been more than helpful and attentive to any small problem.

CalBears.com: Did you grow up watching Cal athletics? What has it been like to represent them?
KB: I never really watched Cal athletics until I decided to come here! My brother had a Berkeley shirt that he wore all the time when we were younger, and I thought it was a cool shirt so I have thought the school was pretty cool ever since. I am very proud to represent Cal, and I can't believe that I am actually here doing just that.

CalBears.com: What are you planning on or thinking of majoring in?
KB: I have no idea! I'm currently majoring in procrastination! I really like animals, and I want to eventually speak Spanish fluently but that's all I know right now!

CalBears.com: What class are you most looking forward to this fall?
KB: I am taking an environmental literature class this fall that sounds pretty cool!

CalBears.com: What would you like to be doing in 10 years?
KB: I don't know what I want to be doing exactly! I would like to travel and live abroad and overall just be happy!

CalBears.com: Which three people would you invite to dinner?
KB: I would invite Steve Carell, my brother, and Mike Myers (in Austin Powers character).

CalBears.com: What is the best piece of advice you've ever received?
KB: The best advice I received from my mom was that it takes pain to grow.

CalBears.com: What's the worst piece of advice you've ever received?
KB: It takes pain to grow!

CalBears.com: What is your biggest pet peeve?
KB: When people don't say please and thank you! Or when there aren't places to recycle.

CalBears.com: If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would buy?
KB: I think I would buy a horse! I've always wanted one!