Ashley Peterson

By Kara Walser
UWRF Sports Information

Falcon Ashley Peterson not only flies around the soccer pitch, but she also has experience flying in a plane.

When asked to tell something about herself that no one else knows, she explains that she has flown a plane under the supervision of her boyfriend, a licensed pilot.

This isn't the only thing that is extraordinary about Peterson.

She is a three time All-WIAC team member and leads the 2006 Falcons with 11 goals and 29 points as of Oct. 5.

This season, Peterson is playing forward for the Falcons and has made an impressive impact for the team. Already being named the Falcons Offensive Player of the Week twice this season, she was also named the WIAC Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 26.

"She has a winning edge," says Falcon Coach Sean McKuras. Peterson is valued because of her ability to move to any position at critical times and has played well both offensively and defensively.

"I think our team winning the WIAC Championship my freshman year was a great achievement in my soccer career," states Peterson.

Peterson started playing soccer at age five because her parents signed her up for it, but only her love for the sport kept her playing.

She was named Forest Lake High School's Most Valuable Player four times and was honored on the all-conference team for three straight seasons.  

When asked about the difference between high school and college soccer, Peterson states, "The level of competition and time commitment has gone up. Every team in our conference is good and on any given day can come up with a win. I think that I have become better at reading the game on and off the field. I attribute this to good coaching and many years of playing."

McKuras agrees stating that Peterson has a sense of the game where she can set and keep the tempo. In the 2005 season, Peterson was named the team's Most Valuable Player and the Most Valuable Defensive Player. Because she was primarily playing defense, she did not score goals like previous seasons but still was a team leader starting all 19 games and finishing with two assists. As of Oct. 5, she has scored 31 career goals and 85 points.

McKuras states that Peterson is a complete player who can excel at any position. She is a leader by example and makes everyone around her play better.

Peterson has a great relationship in and out of season with her teammates saying she can have a great time with them on and off the field, especially in their intramural soccer team known as "The Cool Kids."   She will continue supporting her teammates after her career by showing up at the games to cheer them on.

"Being a senior, I just want to set a good example for the rest of the team," says Peterson."I hope people on the team can learn something from me because I know I learn a lot from them."

While off the field, she likes to bowl, play tennis, and spend time with her boyfriend, family and friends. Peterson enjoys watching Family Feud, which she one day hopes to be on. She likes pizza and watching the movie The Sandlot.  

Peterson is majoring in health & human performance option II and says she wants to find a job that she can enjoy going to everyday.   She has been named to the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll three times.