North Carolina State University Athletics
Upper 90 With Ella Bonner
9/4/2018 10:59:00 AM | Women's Soccer
RALEIGH – GoPack.com sat down with senior Ella Bonner after the NC State women's soccer team's 3-1 win at No. 20 Princeton. Bonner scored the game-winning goal in the 84th minute, her first of the season and second of her career.
Q: How did it feel to score the game-winner at Princeton?
A: "It was a really good feeling to score against Princeton, especially with our history against them. To go out and help the team get the win was really great. I was just focused on trying to get it on frame, and was really happy to see it go in."
Q: With being a defender, you're not someone that's necessarily supposed to score. Did it make it that much sweeter that you came up clutch for your team?
A: "I think so. I scored my freshman year, and even though our season wasn't as great my freshman year, it was still a really big accomplishment for me. So this time around, knowing how much we've grown as a program, being able to help my team out makes it so much better."
Q: The team faced Princeton twice last year, once in the regular season and then again in the NCAA Tournament, and struggled both times. What was the vibe heading into the match?
A: "It was something that was on the back of our minds. We knew we wanted to go out and prove ourselves. That was the mentality heading into the last game against them, but we didn't get the result we wanted. We were focused on executing how we needed to, we knew the little things we needed to focus on so that we could win, and we crushed it."
Q: What was the environment like after the match was over?
A: "Our energy was really high. This has been a really good start for us and we're just trying to keep it going. Everyone was really excited. We're celebrating but also looking forward to the next game."
Q: From your freshman year when the team won just four matches to now with you guys being undefeated and holding two wins over top 20 teams, what has the experience been like being a part of the change and fast improvement?
A: "Going from freshman year to now it's been a gigantic change. It starts with every practice, it's a completely different environment and we carry it into our games. We've pretty much rebuilt the program, so just seeing where we came from to where we are now, I'd say it's like a parent watching their kids grow up. Just knowing how much effort several of us have put in, it's really rewarding to see how far we've come. After I graduate it'll be fun to see how far the program goes."
Q: What is the biggest difference you've seen through your time as part of the program?
A: "It's definitely been our mentality. My freshman year, we would head into every game with the hope to try and not get blown out. The mentality now is it doesn't matter who we're playing, we're going to play for each other and for the name on our shirt. We're playing to knock the other team out."
Q: What do you hope for in your final season with this team?
A: "We're always looking to win the ACC regular season and ACC Championship title, and of course we want to go as far as we can in the NCAA Tournament with the hope to win a national title. Creating more history and breaking records like we have the past two years would also be incredible."
Q: Is it surreal that this is your final year with soccer and school (May 2019 graduate, electrical engineering major)?
A: "It's been a crazy journey. Most of the people in my major take 18 credit hours a semester and graduate in four years or take 15-17 credit hours and graduate in five. So being able to graduate in four is an amazing achievement.
"It's an exciting feeling to know that after this I'll be an adult on my own, but for now I want soak it all in one last time. I want to enjoy going to class and stepping on the field as a senior. This is my last year and I want to make the most of it."
Q: How did it feel to score the game-winner at Princeton?
A: "It was a really good feeling to score against Princeton, especially with our history against them. To go out and help the team get the win was really great. I was just focused on trying to get it on frame, and was really happy to see it go in."
Q: With being a defender, you're not someone that's necessarily supposed to score. Did it make it that much sweeter that you came up clutch for your team?
A: "I think so. I scored my freshman year, and even though our season wasn't as great my freshman year, it was still a really big accomplishment for me. So this time around, knowing how much we've grown as a program, being able to help my team out makes it so much better."
Q: The team faced Princeton twice last year, once in the regular season and then again in the NCAA Tournament, and struggled both times. What was the vibe heading into the match?
A: "It was something that was on the back of our minds. We knew we wanted to go out and prove ourselves. That was the mentality heading into the last game against them, but we didn't get the result we wanted. We were focused on executing how we needed to, we knew the little things we needed to focus on so that we could win, and we crushed it."
Q: What was the environment like after the match was over?
A: "Our energy was really high. This has been a really good start for us and we're just trying to keep it going. Everyone was really excited. We're celebrating but also looking forward to the next game."
Q: From your freshman year when the team won just four matches to now with you guys being undefeated and holding two wins over top 20 teams, what has the experience been like being a part of the change and fast improvement?
A: "Going from freshman year to now it's been a gigantic change. It starts with every practice, it's a completely different environment and we carry it into our games. We've pretty much rebuilt the program, so just seeing where we came from to where we are now, I'd say it's like a parent watching their kids grow up. Just knowing how much effort several of us have put in, it's really rewarding to see how far we've come. After I graduate it'll be fun to see how far the program goes."
Q: What is the biggest difference you've seen through your time as part of the program?
A: "It's definitely been our mentality. My freshman year, we would head into every game with the hope to try and not get blown out. The mentality now is it doesn't matter who we're playing, we're going to play for each other and for the name on our shirt. We're playing to knock the other team out."
Q: What do you hope for in your final season with this team?
A: "We're always looking to win the ACC regular season and ACC Championship title, and of course we want to go as far as we can in the NCAA Tournament with the hope to win a national title. Creating more history and breaking records like we have the past two years would also be incredible."
Q: Is it surreal that this is your final year with soccer and school (May 2019 graduate, electrical engineering major)?
A: "It's been a crazy journey. Most of the people in my major take 18 credit hours a semester and graduate in four years or take 15-17 credit hours and graduate in five. So being able to graduate in four is an amazing achievement.
"It's an exciting feeling to know that after this I'll be an adult on my own, but for now I want soak it all in one last time. I want to enjoy going to class and stepping on the field as a senior. This is my last year and I want to make the most of it."
Players Mentioned
Defender
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