Sonnett Has Been Solid For Georgia Defense
October 01, 2014 | Soccer
By Matthew Pearce
Most student-athletes go through changes throughout their collegiate careers. For Georgia Soccer's Emma Sonnett, however, the latest change isn't much of one at all.
The junior defender recently moved from outside back to center back to cover for the injured Summer Burnett. While it may be an unfamiliar sight for most Georgia fans to see Sonnett in the middle of the back four, it is not new for her to be there.
Sonnett played center back throughout her career before arriving at the University of Georgia, so when the gap opened up it was an easy choice for the coaching staff to plug her into the middle of the back four. The Marietta native has taken full advantage of the opportunity she was given.
"It's not a new position to me, but it's fun being back at center back, being able to direct traffic and everything like that," Sonnet said. "It's a lot different from outside back, and there's definitely not as much running. It's a lot more involved with the team and organizing. You don't get in the attack as much, but it's still rewarding being able to help keep goals out of the net."
So far, the Sonnett-led Georgia defense has proved effective at keeping the ball out of the net. The Bulldogs have given up three goals in three games against a trio of the SEC's strongest offenses. The streak includes an impressive shutout at then-No. 14 South Carolina. The stability the junior has brought to the defense has been a stepping-stone to its continued success, according to defensive coach Dan Blank.
"We don't have an abundance of natural defenders on this team, and it's been really important that we've had somebody who is a defender with experience in our system," Blank said of Sonnett. "She's really held a lot of it together. We've gone against a lot of seriously dangerous attackers the past three games, and Emma has been stellar against all of them."
The journey Sonnett has taken to this point has not always been an easy one, as she started just nine games across her first two years. Sonnett admits she struggled initially with adjusting to playing at the college level, an adjustment she has now comfortably put behind her.
"When I came to college, I knew the competition level was going to be a lot higher, but it's a lot different knowing that versus actually experiencing it," she said. "So when I first experienced it, I was having nervous breakdowns and everything that comes with that, and I had to learn to cope with the level of play and get used to it as quickly as I could. I think one of the biggest things has been getting comfortable with such a high level, and that's one of the biggest transitions I think I've made since freshman year."
It is always helpful to have a strong support network while making that transition, and it is difficult to find one stronger than Sonnett's. While Emma has established herself as a rock in the back for the Bulldogs, her twin sister Emily has been doing the same in Charlottesville, Va.
Emily Sonnett had a very successful first two years in college as a midfielder, including being named second-team Best XI by TopDrawerSoccer.com and Second-Team All-America by College Soccer Madness. Like her sister, Emily has made the switch to center back this year, too - something that has added minutes to an already lengthy Sonnett call log.
"We definitely talk about how our seasons are going and how our different teams are doing," Emma said. "She moved to center back from midfield, so it's quite different hearing her thoughts on defense. We do definitely compare notes. I miss playing with her, I'm not going to lie, it's really hard having her all the way up there, but we talk all the time."
Emma said that her parents have mastered the art of splitting their weekends as well as their wardrobes. For now, though, Bill and Jane Sonnett will be in Athens for Friday night's 7 p.m. SEC matchup with Tennessee, where their daughter and the Georgia defense will be looking to continue their recent excellence.
Matthew Pearce is a freelance writer and a former graduate assistant and intern in the UGA Sports Communications office. A native of Manchester, England, Pearce obtained his master's degree from UGA's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communications in 2013 and before serving as an intern during the 2013-14 academic year.
"Coming Attractions" is a weekly feature published on georgiadogs.com spotlighting a UGA student-athlete who will be competing in a key home event during the upcoming weekend. Previous stories include:
August 28 - David Andrews (football vs. Clemson)
September 4 - Carly Hamilton (cross country in Bulldog Invitational)
September 11 - Tirah Leau (volleyball in Benson Hospitality Invitational)
September 18 - Mariel Gutierrez (soccer vs. Vanderbilt) September 25 - Toby Johnson (football vs. Tennessee)
