TEN QUESTIONS WITH...

Four questions for both Devon and Emily Russell

Devon Russell

What did it mean for the two of you to win the Mid-American Conference Women's Soccer Player of the Week honor in consecutive weeks?
Devon (laughing): Well, she always has followed in my footsteps. Everyone gives us a hard time about the twin thing - and then for us to win that honor in back-to-back weeks makes it even more weird. It definitely was not something that we planned.

Emily, you play forward, while Devon is a defender. How did the two of you wind up playing different positions?
Emily: I think it's something that started when we first began playing - she was on defense and I was on offense. (laughing) She would move the ball up from her position to me and then I would score.

Emily Russell

Devon: It's all about teamwork. (laughing) We always say, "You can't go wrong with a Russell on each end of the field."

Was the decision for both of you to come to UB something that just worked out, or were the two of you definitely going to the same school no matter what?
Devon: The opportunities were there to go to different schools, but then we weighed our options and it made sense to come to UB together. It also made it a lot easier on our parents. UB is such a big school where we can go our own way - with different majors, for example. We can be our own individuals, but still play with one another and have the same group of friends.

What plans do each of you have upon the completion of your senior season and year at UB?
Devon: I'm looking into some internships, and graduate school is still an option. I would still like to keep playing if the opportunity to do so is there, but if not I may also go into coaching.

Emily: I'm leaning towards graduate school here at UB, and maybe getting an assistantship as a soccer coach.

Three questions for Devon Russell

You scored two goals in your team's opening weekend at the Minnesota Invitational. How difficult is it to score goals from your position as a defender?
I've always been offensive-minded. When I first started here at UB, I played as a midfielder. I love to be the playmaker and be in the position to score goals. Even when I'm back on defense, whenever I get the chance to, I try to participate in the offense.

As a defender, how much pride do you take in limiting the opposition's shots and scoring chances?
It's a position in which you are sort of an unsung hero - you don't score as many goals and aren't featured on the front page of the newspaper. So, the only thing you have to show for your effort are the shutouts, which we call doughnuts here.

On a team level, what types of goals do you have this season?
This year, we want to do it all - starting with a MAC title. We want to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. We have a lot of experience this year and a big senior class. We've been playing together for four years so we want to put it all together this year and do well.

Three questions for Emily Russell

You have already tallied a career-high six goals so far this season. What has been the key to your fast start?
I've been waiting four years for a weekend (five goals in two games) like I had at the UTEP Tournament - that's how it should be. I have a great team behind me and a lot of the success I've had is because of that.

How important was it for your team to face quality competition, like you had in the early season, now that MAC play has begun?
It definitely prepares us for our MAC schedule. The MAC is a strong soccer conference - just look at the success the MAC has had in non-conference play this season.

What has the experience of starting almost all of your games since coming to UB meant to your development as a player?
That has enabled me to learn a lot about the game. My level of play is definitely higher now because the experience has paid off. Hopefully, I can pass that knowledge on to our younger players and everyone can benefit from it.

-The "10 Questions with…" feature is compiled by Geoff Nason.