If you blink, you just might lose sight of the ball somewhere between Christen Press’s foot and the back of the net. The senior forward is Stanford’s leading scorer, and is known to be able to fire a shot from nearly anywhere on her opponent’s half and test the keeper.

“My favorite shot is a side volley that goes really low,” said Press, the nation’s leading scorer. “But I rarely do that in games, just practice.”

She may not take her favorite strike as much as she’d like to, but that hasn’t kept Press from pocketing ball after ball this season.

It’s no surprise that Press was named Pac-10 player of the year, as she has truly left her mark this season with 23 goals and seven assists to her name. Press receives praise from awards, teammates and coaches alike, but puts most of the pressure on herself instead of feeling it from outside sources.

“I think it’s safe to say that most of it comes from within,” she said. “The pressure is more just because I want to win and I want to be successful.”

Press’s insatiable drive began before coming to Stanford, as a result of years of competitive play and the people she met along the way.

“I have a fitness coach, Ed Daniels, from my club who was truly an inspiration to me.” Press said in an e-mail to The Daily. “He has a unique lifestyle that opened my eyes to the real world of fitness. He taught me that I always have more energy and that I can always get better, that I should never be satisfied. Those last words are definitely something I carry with me all the time.”

Press’s parents echo her intensity and remain enthusiastic supporters of her soccer career. Even though her parents never played the game themselves, they caught the contagious soccer fever.

“My parents are pretty unique soccer parents,” Press said. “They never played, but as soon as I took to the sport, they became the biggest soccer fans in America. Not just of women’s college soccer, but at every level. My mom is constantly sending me YouTube videos of her favorite European players.”

Press’s parents are also ultimate fans of their daughter’s soccer career, and more than a few of her big moments can be found on YouTube.

“My parents scream their heads off at every game, and only the Lord knows that they are never satisfied,” Press added. “All this is to say that my parents have had an extremely significant impact on where I am today, from inspiration to pressure, they pick me up when I am down and are the reality check when I am up.”

Although she has now made a name for herself, not only on the Stanford campus, but in the nation as well, Press had to work her way up to the top, which is always a daunting experience.

“My freshman year was a notably tough time, as transitioning was extremely difficult for me,” Press said.

So how did a maladjusted freshman evolve into the team leader she is today? Press knew she wanted a challenge not only in soccer, but also in her life in general as well. “I always say college is what you make of it,” Press said. “I chose Stanford because it was a place that made the resources available to me to have a great career here and could push me in all aspects of my life.”

As time passed, Press became a comfortable member of a team with high goals that matched her own.

“I found my place on the team through connecting with the girls on the same dream–to win a national championship,” she said.

Last year, the Card lost in the finals of the NCAA Tournament to North Carolina by just one goal. Instead of letting the loss get to them, the players turned to their inner drive and kept their eyes on the prize.

“Because of that loss,” Press said, “my team and myself go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that we are in the position to give our best effort.”

She never loses sight of her ultimate goal, which she’s worked for since her start.

“All of my dreams have come true here, except for the one that matters most: winning a national championship,” she said. “Hopefully, it’s our year.”

After this year, Press will graduate, leaving her legacy and her inspiration behind for her team to continue on.

“To my team for future seasons, bring passion,” she said. “Push yourself to be greater, and don’t forget to enjoy the journey.”