Sessions is taking her attacking style to Wisconsin

Being willing to go for it on the field is a big part of why Catherine Sessions has excelled as a player. The highly-skilled winger and youth national team veteran will be playing her college soccer at Wisconsin after her 2010 graduation, and Badgers’ fans can expect more of the dynamic attacking play that made her a prized recruit.

Sessions, who plays club soccer for Woodbury SC in  Minnesota, said this approach to the game became her own at an early age.

“When I started playing I was 9 or 10 and at a footskills camp. We worked a lot on taking people on and I guess I’ve always been one to try and put on a move,” Sessions said. “I love getting around people and it helps me out during games, so I practice it a lot on my own. Plus coaches I’ve had have really wanted me to improve and improve and improve.”

Sessions, who cited Portland standout and WPS draftee Megan Rapinoe as a role model in terms of playing style, said she works on her 1v1 play all the time.

“I’ll usually go to practice early and stay after if I can,” she said. “I’ll go outside on my own and juggle or just do moves. I even take the dog out and have him try to get the ball from me.”

Sessions said she doesn’t play every day in order to guard against fatigue and burnout, but she clearly spends a great of time working on her skills.

Sessions played with the U.S. Youth Soccer Region II ODP 92 team along such teammates as Kelsey Mullen, Emily Jacobson, Kelsey Smigel, Katie Nasenbenny and Megan Oyster. Her club coach, Julie Eibensteiner, said Sessions brings a great skill set and attitude to her team.

“She’s very dynamic on the ball and very dangerous 1v1. She’s willing to take big risks and is creative,” Eibensteiner said. “As a teammate and a person she’s fantastic. She always shows up to practice with smile on her face. She’s willing to do anything for the team. She works her butt off in practice.”

Eibensteiner credited her predecessor at Woodbury, Brandon Barkus, with playing an important early role in Sessions’ development as a player. The player agreed.

“Brandon put effort into everything he did. He taught us all very well,” Sessions said. “He taught me not to be afraid of sometimes losing the ball, but to go out and try things. Before that I was kind of afraid to and I used to always play it safe because I didn’t want to let the team down. But he helped me learn that everybody makes mistakes and you have to try things.”

She is enthusiastic about trying Wisconsin, having committed to Paula Wilkins’ program as a junior.

“I wasn’t clear at first where I was going to go. Since I was little though, I loved Wisconsin. My dad is from there and I kind of wanted to go, but when I went to camp last summer I really loved the girls and the whole place. I really want to be a part of something special. They didn’t have the best year last year, but with Paula there they are going to keep building and building.”

In the meantime, Sessions is working on perfecting her game and helping Woodbury toward another trip to the Region II Championships and perhaps beyond.