In Focus: Karas A Senior 'Stalwart' For Huskies
October 21, 2015 | General, Women's Soccer
By Mason Kelley
GoHuskies.com
There are no stats to describe what McKenzie Karas does best.
At the end of each Washington game, there is no record of headers won or shots deflected. As a senior defender, Karas is tasked with anchoring the Huskies' back line. It is a job with an importance that can't be quantified by numbers.
Each time Washington steps onto the pitch, coach Lesle Gallimore provides a detailed list of everything Karas needs to know, keys to shutting down the opponent's attack. After digesting the scouting report, Karas sets out to accomplish one goal – to prevent them from “getting a shot off or scoring on us.”
With that objective, there is only one number Karas cares about at the end of a game, the one next to the opponent's name on the scoreboard after 90 minutes.
“That's my stat, a shutout,” she said with a smile.
As a senior, Karas coordinates with goalkeeper Megan Kufeld to keep Washington's back line working as a cohesive unit.
“It's about organizing the people in front of me,” said Karas, a psychology major. “Marking up the midfielders, always providing cover for my outside backs and just winning air balls and my one v. one battles.”
Over the past four years, Karas has developed into one of the top defenders in the Pac-12.
“She's probably one of the best in the country,” Kufeld said. “I don't think anyone can get by her.”
A physical force in the back, the standout nicknamed “Jammer” gives the Huskies' defense an edge.
“Without her, our defense wouldn't be the same,” Kufeld said.
Karas has become the defensive presence Gallimore envisioned when she recruited the Las Vegas, Nev. native. However, after suffering a torn ACL right before signing day her senior year, it took time for Karas to find her footing in college.
“Her freshman year was really slow going, because it was so soon after her surgery,” Gallimore said. “It took her a couple of years to get her fitness, to get her body feeling the right way, to be able to produce and compete with the players who were playing ahead of her.”
Last season Karas “broke through and broke out.” Whether asked to mark a player in the open field or out-jump an opponent to win a header, she established herself as a dominant defender during the Huskies' run to the Sweet 16.
“I've grown as a player, freshman year to now,” Karas said. “I'm a completely different player and Lesle has pushed me to be that player. My thing was consistency and perseverance throughout my time here.”
Karas has started all 12 of the Huskies' games so far this season. She earned the Best Defender Award at the Portland Nike Invitational and has been named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week once.
And, as far as shutouts go – that one stat Karas cares about – Washington (10-3-2) has six. In fact, as the Huskies head into a weekend series at home against Cal (Friday at 4 p.m.) and Stanford (Sunday at 5 p.m.), the program has allowed 12 goals through 15 games. Only twice this year has a team found the net more than once.
Karas believes this season's success is a direct result of the Huskies finding ways to get the most out of each opportunity.
“Every day means a lot to us,” she said. “We've just had fun playing soccer and that's why we've done so well. It's not about the stats. It's not about where we finish. It's just one game at a time, working hard in that game.”
In addition to being a dynamic defender, Karas helps the attack with her passing from the back.
“Technically she's become so much more clean, a force for us when we have the ball,” Gallimore said. “I really couldn't ask for anything more. She's just had a great season for us and I hope that continues.”
With five games left in the regular season, Karas can't believe she is already well into the back half of her senior season. However, there is still a lot to accomplish as the program looks to make another run deep into the postseason. Regardless of what happens moving forward, Karas plans to savor the memorable moments.
“It's been amazing,” she said. “You go through rough times, offseason workouts you don't think you can finish but, honestly, playing this season and how our team has done, the chemistry we have and the family we've built is worth every bit of it.”
