In Focus: Kufeld Works to Leave A Legacy
November 04, 2015 | General, Women's Soccer
By Mason Kelley
GoHuskies.com
With each week that passes, Megan Kufeld finds herself flooded with emotion and memories. For Washington's senior goalkeeper, each game brings her closer to the close of an impeccable career both on the field and in the classroom.
Every moment she spends with the Huskies is an opportunity to cement her legacy. But, for Kufeld, the idea of a legacy deviates from the definition shared by many.
As far as Kufeld is concerned, the legacy she is striving for has nothing to do with individual accomplishments.
After she plays her last game in purple and gold, she wants to know, “I've left a culture of working hard, wanting to get better and be as good as you can be. That's what I try to do every day and, hopefully, I've shown that work ethic to other people on the team.”
For someone who spends little time thinking about statistics, her numbers are impressive. Heading into Thursday's senior night matchup with Washington State, she has already set program records for goals against average (0.93) and shutouts (21). She has turned away 206 shots in her career – No. 4 in school history – and has been named Pac-12 Player of the Week three times.
But, when asked about those numbers, the stats that will leave her name in Washington's record book, well, “that's not really a legacy to me,” she said. “Records are just kind of off on the side in a book. I hope I've made more of an impact that way.”
Historically, the numbers say she is one of the best players to put on a Washington women's soccer uniform. For Kufeld, though, “records are a weird thing, personally. It's kind of just someone's made up version of success. Someone defined that as being successful, so now that's kind of what we have.”
Kufeld sees success through a different lens. If she plays at the level she expects of herself, while working to elevate her teammates, that is something to be proud of, regardless of the wins, losses and statistics.
“That might not be someone else's definition of success, but you know that, for yourself, you are successful,” she said.
Kufeld's definition of success is refreshing. It is the kind of mature thinking expected from someone whose success in the classroom equals her performance on the field.
With the Cougars heading to town this week, Kufeld's primary concern is helping the Huskies secure their first win since 2003 against their in-state rivals.
“If I could help our team do that, it would be a really cool thing to be able to set the tone for a new era of Washington women's soccer,” she said. “That's something that is on our minds. We want to beat Wazzu and we want to be the first team that's done it in a long time.”
A win against Washington State would go a long way toward helping the Huskies secure a second straight spot in the NCAA tournament.
After redshirting as a freshman, Kufeld's career has featured a pair of trips to the tournament, including last year's run to the Sweet 16. Through the ups and downs, success and disappointment, the senior describes her experiences with the Huskies as “some of the best in my life.”
“I've learned a lot and I've grown up a lot, and it's because of being on the soccer team,” she said, “the experiences you have, the ups and the downs.”
In the classroom, Kufeld carries a 3.97 G.P.A., while majoring in biology. After she graduates, she plans to study molecular or cellular biology in graduate school. She wants to one day work in the biotechnology or biomedical research field.
“I definitely plan on pursuing soccer further after UW, but I know, eventually, my career is going to be in something that isn't soccer,” she said.
There are decisions to be made in the future. She knows she needs to narrow her focus before applying to graduate school. However, for now, her goal is to extend Washington's season as long as possible.
Each opportunity to take the field with her teammates provides an opportunity to refine her legacy. It doesn't matter how many shots she stops or shutouts she tallies, as long as she plays at a level she can be proud of, and as long as her teammates respect and appreciate the effort she invests, her legacy will last.
“There are a lot of other things I think are important, things you'll remember,” she said, “like being the best you can be and helping others be as good as they can be.”
