On the pitch with Alex Best

FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State women's soccer team will host CSU Bakersfield on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 6 p.m. PT at the Soccer and Lacrosse Stadium. Before the Bulldogs face the Roadrunners on the pitch, GoBulldogs.com sat down with senior goalkeeper Alex Best.

The Studio City, Calif. native has played in 10 games for the Bulldogs before suffering a season-ending injury at the beginning of her junior season.

Best was selected as the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 18, 2016) during in her debut season with the Bulldogs after transferring from CSUN.

We asked her an array of questions from her goals for the season to her most influential professors at Fresno State.

Q: What are you enjoying most about your senior season?
Best: "Being with my teammates 24/7 and enjoying every minute of my senior season. We have such a special team because we're all best friends so I'm excited to spend my last season with them."

Q: If you were to compare yourself as a soccer player when you were about to start your first season at Fresno State, to the soccer player you are now starting your final season. How are you the same? How are you different?
Best: "I have matured and grown so much as a player from my first season at Fresno State. Being a goalkeeper you see everything that is happening on the field in front of you, even though we don't see the ball as much as the field players our job to lead the team is huge. My communication and leadership skills on the field have improved drastically from my first season at Fresno State."

Q: What are your goals for this season?
Best: "My goals for this season is to lead our team to a Mountain West Championship. Having 10 seniors apart of my senior class, I believe we have the experience and leadership to accomplish this goal to bring home a Mountain West Championship!"

Q: Did your four seasons go by fast? Did it ever feel like you'd never get to your senior year?
Best: "Looking back at the past 4 years, it has gone by incredibly fast. I always remind the underclassmen to never take any moment for granted because it will fly by so fast."

Q: What lessons has soccer taught you that you can use off the field?
Best: "Soccer has taught me that hard work and dedication will always pay off if you believe in your dreams and goals."

Q: Talk about a time that one of your teammates inspired you.
Best: "This past season I suffered from a season ending injury by tearing my ACL. Former Fresno State Soccer players Maria Gomez and Amanda Nunes inspired me to never give up and to trust the process."

Q: Is there a saying or catchphrase that Coach Zwaschka always says that you'll always remember?
Best: "Coach Zwaschka always says to the team "Hit the floor you score!"

Q: Do you have a favorite professor?
Best: "My favorite professors at Fresno State are Professor Sharma and Professor Kartch. Both are in the Communication Department and they both have shown me over the years how important it is to understand the way we communicate and why we communicate in certain ways."

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On the pitch with Alex Best

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