"Miriam has been a great addition to our team. She has a strong desire to develop her game, and I look forward to spending another two seasons where I can watch her continue to develop as a player."
BENNETT'S CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
AS A SOPHOMORE (2002): Joined the Lady Vols as a walk-on during the preseason and saw time in two matches...Formally added to Tennessee's roster on Sept. 6, Bennett provided an immediate impact by scoring on her first attempt later that night against Arkansas State...Her goal off a pass from Sue Flamini at 61:52 finalized the margin in the 9-0 pummeling of the Lady Indians...
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Earned four varsity letters at Sparta High School in soccer and captained her squad as a senior...Team claimed three straight Sussex County Interscholastic League crowns between 1999-2001...Was chosen all-state as both a junior and a senior and was a three-time first-team all-conference selection...Picked to play in the New Jersey Senior Showcase...Named All-West Jersey for two straight campaigns...Voted as her squad's Most Improved Player in both 1999 and 2000 and received the Coaches Award in '01...Recorded career total of 76 points on 23 goals and 40 assists...Competed for the FC Talons club team, which finished as the New Jersey State Cup runner-up in 2000...Participated in various tournaments in such locales as Connecticut, Delaware, Rhode Island, New York and Virginia...Also lettered four times in outdoor track and twice in indoor track, serving as a captain for each sport...
PERSONAL: Majoring in Russian with a concentration in language and world business...Hopes to land a job with either an international company or the United States government...Would like to use her extensive knowledge of Russian in her intended field...Member of the National and Russian Honor Societies at Sparta High School...Achieved status on her school's High Honor Roll for 16 marking periods...Listed in Who's Who Among High School Students and rated in the top 10 percent of her class...Named to the all-area academic squad...Member of the student council, debate team and the yearbook staff, and served as a peer development program leader...Regards her brother Andrew as one of her sports influences since he is a hard-working athlete who has never given up on her...Admires Jesus Christ and Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong...Enjoys hanging out with friends, participating in church activities and working with children...Chose to attend UT because she loved the atmosphere and the friendly people she met...Former teammates playing on the collegiate level include Shannon Alger (Delaware), Whitney Dula (Seton Hall) and Jessica Trainor (Virginia)...Has three brothers, Joshua, 26, Andrew, 23, and Nathan, 17...Miriam Judith Bennett was born July 4, 1983, in Newton, N.J...Her parents, Judson and Deanna Bennett, both attended the University of Tennessee.
BENNETT'S CAREER STATISTICS
OVERALL
Year
GP/GS
Shots
Goals
Asst.
Points
GWG
2002
2/0
1
1
0
2
0
SEC
Year
GP/GS
Shots
Goals
Asst.
Points
GWG
2002
Did Not Play
UP CLOSE WITH MIRIAM
Nickname: Mir
I wear number "23" because... it's the number I was given
Favorite song: Stand By Me
Favorite TV show: Gilmore Girls
Favorite class at UT: Introduction to Fiction
Most impressive person you know: My best friend, Shelley
Person in history you'd like to meet: Jesus
First thing you'd do if you were head coach for a day: Probably have the team play a sport other than soccer
Person you would most like to trade places with for a day: President Bush
Teammate who has the best sense of humor: Kayla Lockaby
People who have most influenced your athletic career: My parents, because they allowed me to participate in whatever sports that I wanted, drove me to and from every practice and game, and always gave positive encouragement along the way.
Most memorable moment in athletics: Being told I could be a part of the Lady Vol soccer team
Best player you've ever faced: All of my teammates
Craziest ambition: To be an agent for the CIA and FBI
One thing you wish you were better at: Staying organized
Favorite sport besides soccer: Tennis
One possession you'd keep if you lost all but one: The Holy Bible
Team you'd most like to see added to the schedule: Virginia
The best advice I've ever been given is... "No expectations"
If there were a movie about your life, what would it be called? "Victory in Him"
Who is the actress who would play the part in a movie about your life? Sandra Bullock
What actor would you like to play your romantic interest? Ashton Kutcher
Nobody knows how much I... love Skittles!
A place I've always wanted to visit, but never had the chance is... Walt Disney World
What motivates you? Myself and the desire to succeed, because I don't like to fail
Why did you choose to attend Tennessee? I grew up visiting the campus, my parents and brothers went there, and I just loved the people and how much there is to do
Since I've been at UT, I've learned... that it's hard living with three girls when you grew up living with three brothers
The best thing about playing soccer for the Lady Vols is... I have the best teammates in the country
Which teammate will be the biggest surprise in 2003? Lindsey Wiest
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