Anna Kenig-Ziesler holds back, studying the field. While everyone else frantically chases the ball, she seems laser focused on something else. She jogs slowly around midfield still focused on that spot, then breaks into a full sprint just in time to intercept the ball with no defenders around and make a run up the field.

Anna, who stands at 5’0”, may look tiny compared to most other girls on the field, but she has found a way to tailor her game to fit her needs. Next year she will be on the roster for the University of Chicago Maroons women’s soccer team, which last year finished second nationally, and she hopes to continue her unconventional and strategic style of play.

“A lot of people like to do the funner stuff, but Anna realizes she needs to do the stuff that’s not as fun also,” her coach, Bannon Stroud, said. “Next year she’ll be playing in, far and away, the most challenging Division III conference, but I think it’s a challenge she’ll be well equipped to take on.”

Anna started playing soccer at age 5 and immediately found her passion.

“It’s weird because I never really had one of those moments where I came close to quitting the game,” she said. “I’ve always just loved the game and been motivated by that.”

Even though she has always been passionate about the sport, she didn’t start thinking about playing college soccer until her freshman year of high school when she switched to an elite travel team in the city.

“When I was younger I didn’t know anything about college sports because neither of my parents grew up in America,” she said. “As I got older, playing in college became more of a focus, but I have always been motivated by my love for the sport. I knew I wanted to play in college so I only looked at schools I thought I could play at, and UChicago seemed like the best choice.”

As Anna got more serious about soccer, she became more aware of how her smaller stature affected her game. Everyone around her told her how small she was and how that would affect her ability to play at a higher level, but that never deterred Anna.

“It’s funny because everyone always says I’m so small, but I don’t feel small,” she said. “My size definitely makes some things harder, but I barely think about it anymore. It just means that tactically I have to understand the game better and figure out the best way to get to the ball first.”

Now, rather than having her sights set on the future, Anna has all of her focus on the present. She has played varsity all four years of high school and looks forward to the current season more than anything, where she is a captain for the second time.

“Anna isn’t only a great player,” junior teammate Grace Watson said. “She really helps bring us together. Like, she always sends us motivational quotes before games. She is always there trying to motivate us.”

Anna looks to lead the team to the school’s first state title this year.

“We have a really good high school team this year, probably the most talented team we have had in my four years. Once we put the pieces together, I think we should have a really good shot at winning state.”