Soccer's Emily Janss Featured On SchoolSports.com
9/23/1999 8:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 23, 1999
By Matt Kalman
SchoolSports.com
She was a Parade Magazine All-American and the captain of the East Team in the Puma Cup Tournament after graduating from Bloomingdale High (Valrico, Fla.) in 1996. So it should be no surprise that Emily Janss has become one of the best players in D-I women's soccer.
"It was an adjustment at first, playing at such a high level every single day," says Janss, now a senior who has scored one goal and one assist this season. "I was shocked at how fast the play went and what everyone expected of me."
The shock, however, wore off quickly. Janss scored six goals - still a career high - and dished for five assists as a freshman. In her sophomore and junior years, Janss played more on the back line but still was named to All-ACC second team both seasons.
This year, Janss, who scored four goals last season, is still on the back line. But if she has her way, she'll surpass her career-high goal total before her senior year is over.
"If I'm going to play defense, I hope that I can get in the attack a little more," says Janss. "Sometimes I feel like I'm not doing enough for my team if I'm not in the attack. Of course, if my team's winning, I don't mind it."
Maryland's offense allows Janss to be offensive-minded, but she keeps the team's best fortunes in mind.
"I pick and choose when to go," says Janss. "I'm usually able to get involved. Of course, if it's late in the game and we're down or tied, I push up a little more."
While offense is often on her mind, Janss's demeanor on the field makes her best suited for the back line.
"She has great composure," Maryland coach Shannon Cirovski says. "She never gets beat one-on-one. She's so quick that it's tough to get around her and when she gets possession, she usually bounces it around a little bit and comes through with a beautifully placed ball forward."
Janss's demeanor is also what led her teammates to vote her as one of three captains of the Terrapins.
"Beyond being a good player, she's also a good person," says Cirovski. "She's very thoughtful and she's always ready to bring her teammates up when they get down. She works her tail off and that's an admirable quality."
Says Janss, "I think that's kind of part of my personality. I usually get along with most of the other people of the team. I'm a laid-back kind of person. I accept everyone. People usually find it easy to come talk to me."
With her final season underway, Janss has a chance to be one of the few who get to be called All-Americans. She's honored by the consideration, as well as the awards she has won the past few seasons.
"I think it's very honorable to have those titles," says Janss. "It means that people have seen me play enough and I'm someone who they know to expect to be one of the players to look for."
