A pronounced talent
Like many soccer stars around the world, Kellie Zakrzewski theoretically could drop her last name.
It’s probably best that you memorize it instead.
The Cheney sophomore has blossomed into the area’s premier goal scorer, posting mind-boggling numbers that evoke words like ridiculous, incredible and outrageous. Zakrzewski (pronounced zak-SHEFF-ski) has tallied 29 goals in the Blackhawks’ 14 games this season, not to mention eight assists on a team that is hoping to surpass last year’s third-place finish at state.
It’s not as if she’s a newcomer. Zakrzewski led Cheney with 13 goals as a freshman in 2006, so opponents – particularly those in the Great Northern League – were aware of her abilities entering this season. Still, she’s scored 22 goals against GNL foes this year.
Frankly, the rampant success has surprised even her.
“A little bit, yeah,” Zakrzewski said. “It’s turned out to be great, obviously. It’s a lot of goals. I was already stoked for this season because I knew our team would be good and we’d have a lot of scoring because our offense is so strong.”
Zakrzewski, 15, credits her teammates for her goal-scoring prowess. She said she’s played with Nicole Fox, Chelsie Breen and Tanya Baker since she was 6, and that familiarity has benefited Zakrzewski and the Cheney team.
She used “family” to describe the Blackhawks’ tangible camaraderie, but it’s Zakrzewski who is the most proficient bread-earner among her unrelated kin.
“I think she’s somebody who has a field presence and great vision and a nose for the goal,” first-year Cheney coach Robyn Smith said. “She just naturally has that shot, that great first touch and is able to keep the ball close. I can’t tell you how many goals I’ve seen where she’s changed it up – a rip of a shot or just a nice easy pass into the side netting. She has just a great sense for where the goal is and a great sense for what she needs to do.”
Zakrzewski has posted her gaudy totals at right outside midfielder, a position not often synonymous with goal scoring. Forwards usually are tabbed primary shot takers, but Zakrzewski’s presence on the perimeter makes it difficult for opponents to double-team her. Employing that tactic spreads defenses thin, and Zakrzewski already understands the importance of knowing when to attack and when to defer to teammates in a better position to score.
Opposing teams need to remember that, too.
“There’s usually two people on me, which means someone is open,” she said. “It’s a big disadvantage (for opponents). They try to take me out of the game, which I understand, but the offense is not just me. We have other people up top capable of (scoring), and they have.”