Virginia freshman forward Kelly Quinn scored the first goal in Sunday's win over Richmond. From Dublin, Ohio, Quinn comes to the University of Virginia with an impressive record.
Quinn was a three-time NSCAA High School All-American, three-time Gatorade and NSCAA Ohio Player of the Year, a former member of the United States U-17 National Team and member of the Dublin Coffman High School state championship team in 2001 and 2003.
These accomplishments, however, are only the beginning for Quinn's developing career.
"If you ripped open her chest you'd see an awfully big heart," Virginia coach Steve Swanson said. "She's got an amazing engine and is one of the hardest workers already."
This is no surprise to many, as Quinn comes from a family that has bred two Division I athletes.
Quinn's older brother, Brady, is the starting quarterback for Notre Dame and listed 20th on ESPN's list of top 100 college football players for 2005.
Now in his junior year as member of the Fighting Irish, Brady Quinn has been the starting quarterback for 21 consecutive games and voted one of two team captains in 2005. Growing up together, the Quinn duo often practiced with one another.
"If I asked him to go into the goal, he would go and I'd shoot on him," Kelly Quinn said. "But rarely, it was more like me catching his footballs in the yard."
The support and encouragement she received from her brother kept Kelly Quinn consistently working hard.
"It was more like him taking me under his wing and making me tough, pushing me harder," Kelly Quinn said about playing with her older brother. "It was never good enough, and he'd always let me know that so I would keep working hard and getting better."
Yet, the support was not only present among brother and sister. Parents Robin and Tyrone Quinn have also played a key role in their children's athletic performances.
"Going into your first year, I think to have that stability at home is quite a factor," Swanson said. "She's got an awfully close, tight-knit family. They support one another in whatever they do, and I think that's helped Kelly as a player."
During their free time, the Quinn family often plays basketball, a sport that both athletes played in high school.
"It would get Brady away from football and me away from soccer, so it was one of those things we'd do as a family with my dad and stuff," Kelly Quinn said.
Despite the Quinn siblings' hectic athletic schedules, they still try stay up to date with how each other is doing, on and off the field.
"I watch him every Saturday on TV, and I get so nervous for him," Kelly Quinn said. "He calls me before and after games to see how I do and to wish me luck. We both pray for each other and send each other Bible verses."
The Quinns will be back in action for their upcoming games later this week. Brady Quinn and the Irish take on the Washington Huskies Saturday at 12:30 p.m. The Cavaliers' next game is Thursday in Winston-Salem, N.C. against Wake Forest at 7 p.m.
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