By Lisa McMahan
Fans at women's soccer games can testify to her vigorous verbal communication on the field. What these spectators do not witness, however, is the continuation of fifth-year senior Kelsey Davis' support for her team after the match.
"We call her 'the intense talker,'" Head Coach Garrett Smith said.
Davis acknowledged that her team likes to joke around about her discussions, which take place both on and off the field. "I like to have meaningful conversations with people," Davis said.
While she might have to converse a little bit louder on the field, her goal is to let her teammates know that she is in the goal ready to help them out as needed.
"I really hope that my teammates feel confident with me behind them and that they feel like I'm the one that they can rely on and go to for anything," Davis said.
Last summer, Davis learned that she could rely on her team in much the same way when her father committed suicide. Just a week and a half later, she broke her jaw.
"Losing my dad was sudden and unexpected," Davis said. "He was my best friend in the entire world so it wasn't only like I was losing my dad, I lost a very good friend."
She received support and help not only from her team, but from the entire UP community.
"The support that I've got and have continued to have since everything happened has been absolutely amazing," said Davis, who believes her friends and her faith are the best things that have happened to her.
"I'm a Christian and just to be able to return to a place where I can find meaning and hope was a huge thing," the theology major added.
Smith also believes the community surrounding Davis was integral in helping her cope with the events of her summer.
"It goes to show how important school was for Kelsey in the position she was in," Smith said.
After breaking her jaw in an exhibition match with the Under-23 Women's National Team, Davis had her jaw wired shut for seven weeks. Later that summer, while having coffee with Theology Department Head Matthew Baasten, Davis recalls the School of Education Dean Sr. Maria Ciriello walking past the table and checking in on Davis.
"She brought me a blender and ice cream that night," said Davis. "I've been shown so much love and support. It's been unreal."
Davis credits the UP community for helping her cope with her father's death and her injury, but she has done plenty to give back.
In part because of her commitment to community service in the past, Davis is nominated for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, an award that honors one student athlete in each NCAA Division-1 sport across the country. The award serves to recognize these student athletes "for great achievement during competition and in their community while staying in school," according to the Web site.
"In my eyes, she is one of the top goalkeepers in her age group," Under-23 Women's National Team Head Coach Bill Irwin said.
Davis was called up to the full national team over the summer but was unable to compete after breaking her jaw. Despite this setback, Irwin believes she has a future in women's professional soccer.
In addition to school and soccer, Davis manages to juggle multiple activities, including serving as president to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee last year, participating in the WCC Soles4Soul shoe drive, and reading to children as part of the National Education Association's Read Across America Day.
Perhaps most telling of her commitment to community service, however, is a room at the Ronald McDonald House Charity East. Doused in purple, the room features beds, posters and even purple lockers for families with children undergoing medical treatment at Legacy Emanuel Hospital.
These families are able to be near their children and live at the house for little to no cost. For many of them, it is a home away from home, according to East House Manager Maria Hicks.
The women's soccer team has served dinners at the house for years, but the vision grew larger in the spring of 2008 during a tour of the house. Davis walked through with her teammates and was inspired by the room adopted by the University of Oregon.
"We were walking through and I was kind of like, 'why don't we have a room here?'" Davis reflected. "It seemed like an awesome way to further our relationship and give back substantially to the community."
After speaking with Smith, Davis went on to work with the Athletic Department to see the dream realized.
Her team fundraised over $6,000 through a myriad of ways including donations and a silent auction.
"It took almost a full year for the thing to manifest itself. There were a lot of hands involved in the project," said Davis. "I did help to spearhead it but I had a lot of help from our Athletic Department, from community support, and from the families within our team. They really stepped up for us to help make it happen."
Hicks believes that the adoption of the room by the Pilots leaves a permanent impact on the house and the families it serves.
"The guests really appreciate the room," she said.
And as evidenced by Davis' nomination for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, Portland fans really appreciate her as well.
Pilot fan Ty Christian met Kelsey at an open house for the Ronald McDonald House Charities and recently set up a Facebook group to raise awareness about her nomination. He has two daughters and regularly attends games on Merlo Field.
"The Pilots are a great role models for your daughter to watch - both how they handle themselves on the field as athletes as well as individuals off the field," Christian said. "Kelsey is just real. I think she's deserving not only for what she's done but the kind of person she is."
He hopes the Facebook group will encourage fans to vote daily to increase Davis' chances of winning the award. Candidates are selected by a Lowe's Senior CLASS Award nomination committee and are narrowed down to 10 finalists. Fan balloting accounts for 1/3 of the selection process with the remaining votes coming from national media coverage and Divison-1 coaches.
The award stresses excellence in the classroom, the community, in competition, and in character.
"All around, she's like the perfect package in terms of a student athlete who is also involved in the community," said junior Sophie Schmidt, who is Davis' best friend on the team.
"She has a really big heart for people."
