Starting forward on the women’s soccer team Destinee Williamson, criminal justice freshman, is a major factor in the team’s undefeated 5-0-4 start to the season, and it’s only her first year on the team.

The team has only made an undefeated start one other time in its history, and Williamson has already made a big impression with her five goals and three assists on the season.

Her decision to come to MSU was based on the size and the importance of the sports teams.

“I decided MSU because it was a small school,” Williamson said. “I love it because sports are important to it.”

Even as a freshman, Williamson has the capability of becoming a leader on the team as she has already proven, earning a starting position despite her own expectations.

“I didn’t think I would be starting as a freshman let alone getting any playing time at all,” she said.

The pressure of meeting the expectations of her coaches and teammates is on Williamson’s shoulders, but she said the stress fades away when it comes to game time.

“There are nerves every game and there is pressure,” she said. “It’s just about how you handle it and channel that in the game.”

Having such a big role on the field so early in her career, Williamson said she looks forward to being able to carry games later in the season.

“It makes me feel important and that I could possibly attribute to being the game changer,” she said.

Playing soccer since she was in seventh grade, Williamson is happy to be able to continue her career into college but isn’t sure about anything after.

“I don’t think that’s the way I want to go but if it’s there then it’s there,” she said.

Williamson played for her high school team at Trinity High School in Euless as well as her club team, Andromeda.

Williamson said adjusting from high school and club soccer to college has been a challenge, but she thinks she can conform to the challenges.

“It’s a lot more organized and faster,” she said. “The hardest part is connecting with everybody and having to adjust to a new environment.”

Williamson said the atmosphere within the team and on the field is her favorite part of soccer.

Practicing everyday, Williamson said she works hard to become better with the team as well as reaching her own personal goals.

“I push through every drill in practice,” she said. “I work on my touches on the ball.”

Williamson works just as hard on her criminal justice studies as she does on the field. She said she hopes to be a detective in the future.

The team is now receiving votes in the National Soccer Coaches’ Association of America Division II Top 25 for the first time since 2011.

MSU takes on Texas Women’s 7 p.m. Friday and Texas A&M Commerce Sunday at 1 p.m.