Sophomore forward Karen Enockson leads the NIU women’s soccer team in scoring. The Northern Star sat down with the St. Charles native and talked about everything from playing soccer as a kid to her favorite music and tried to figure out why soccer players walk around barefoot after games.

Northern Star: What is your favorite childhood soccer memory?

Karen Enockson: I was on a team called the Pink Ponytails. I was eight, it was a rec league, and we were given pink shirts for uniforms. Our coach gave us pink scrunchies. I still have that scrunchie, actually.

NS: Did you always know you were going to play high school and college soccer?

KE: No. I just did it because it was fun and a good time, but talking to my mom now, she said she knew I would.

NS: What role did your parents play in your soccer career?

KE: They signed me up for camps and stuff, and they never pushed me to do things that I didn’t want to do. They could just tell I wanted to do camps and play a lot of soccer.

NS: If you had to do karaoke, name one song you would sing.

KE: (Laughs) “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” by Pat Benatar. I know all the words. I’m not a big fan; I just like the song, since it’s real upbeat and fun.

NS: What’s your favorite Napoleon Dynamite character?

KE: Wow … they are all so great. I like Deb. She’s probably my favorite. She doesn’t care what anyone thinks about her. She does her own thing, and she’s a businesswoman slash entrepreneur.

NS: What is your most embarrassing moment?

KE: In a high-school recruiting tournament, all the college coaches watch the club teams, and we had just played a game. We were getting ready to leave, and I guess I had sat on the electrical tape we tape our socks up with. Well, it stuck to my shorts and as I walk to the car past all these college coaches, I’ve got this electrical-tape tail.

NS: What is your favorite NIU soccer memory?

KE: The DePaul game, because we played awesome. I know a lot of girls on DePaul, and I scored the only goal. Everyone played great, and as a team that’s when we came together.

NS: Last game you had a goal called back. What goes through your head when that happens?

KE: Oh, I’m angry. I’m on adrenaline. I mean, scoring goals is the best feeling in the world – it’s what I live for, and it’s my job as a forward. Before every game my goal is to score a goal. Last game the ball hit me in the chin. I couldn’t talk after because it hit me so hard in the face and messed up my voice. But the ref called a hand ball; I just can’t control those things.

NS: If you aren’t playing soccer, what are you doing?

KE: Procrastinating, and not doing my homework. Basically being lazy, laying on the couch with some sort of food and watching TV. My homework just sits on the table and just stares at me.

NS: Pick one TV genre: action, drama or chick flick?

KE: Drama. I love Law & Order. I am also a Real World junkie. The Road Rules Challenges are fun, too.

NS: What’s on your iPod?

KE: I like a lot of rock and alternative – the new Audioslave CD is real good. I love grunge music; Soundgarden, Foo Fighters, it’s great stuff. Foo Fighters [is] probably my favorite; they have a serious side, a quiet side and a crazy Dave Grohl side. That kind of defines my personality.

NS: You and your coach, Marci Miller, are both from St. Charles. Did you know her before coming to NIU?

KE: We graduated from a high school with a really long soccer tradition, and she was one of the girls I looked up to and wanted to play like. She also was one of my indoor coaches right before I went into high school, so I knew her a little bit.

NS: What’s playing for Marci like?

KE: She always believes in you no matter what. She always gives you a ‘hey, pick your head up,’ and a keep it going feeling. She always is real positive. She pushes us hard and expects a lot but is always there for you.

NS: What is the hardest thing about Division I soccer?

KE: During the season you get real tired because there is so much going on. You just want to sleep since you get so worn out. The hardest part is making sure you keep your motivation and go strong through the whole season, because three fourths of the way through, you are so tired.

NS: After all the practices and games, the first thing soccer players do is take off their shoes and walk barefoot in the grass. Why?

KE: I’ve never thought about that before, but you are right, wow. I guess your feet are just real hot, and you just take them off. You know, cleats aren’t the most comfortable thing.