Raider Feature: Brittany Persaud
9/14/2010 12:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 14, 2010
By Ryan Hehr
When junior Brittany Persaud scored Wright State's first goal in a 2-1 win at Middle Tennessee on August 27, it was a big deal to Raider soccer fans.
No, it wasn't the first goal of her collegiate career, but it was her first of the season. A big deal for someone who led the team in goals (5) last season and was seventh overall in the Horizon League. Waiting three games into the season to record a goal is a long time for someone of Persaud's stature.
Even Persaud admitted that scoring her first goal of the season was a bit of a relief.
"It felt good," said Persaud. "It was nice to get the first one out of the way."
But while the goal may have been a big deal to Wright State fans, Persuad didn't make a big fuss about the accomplishment. Whereas some people see her as a scorer on the field, Persuad sees herself as a teammate who scores once in a while.
"Everyone else is a part of the team. When we come together, I just help," said Persuad. "I just get the ball and play it. I score here and there if I'm lucky."
Since that goal, Persaud has scored another goal at both Eastern Kentucky and Canisius. She has also recorded three assists, two at EKU, and currently ranks third in the Horizon League with nine points on the year (a player receives two points for a goal and one for an assist).
When talking about Wright State soccer and the role she plays on the team, Persaud barely mentions anything about herself and the important role she plays on the team. She simply speaks of the team as a whole. Head Coach Pat Ferguson is a little different.
Even before the season began Ferguson talked about how significant Persaud's role is on the team. He talked about how she is able to think outside the box and, as a result, include players who normally wouldn't be part of the equation on the field. But there was something else Ferguson mentioned about Persaud's personality that is very unique. It's something Wright State's women's soccer team has lacked in years past.
"When she transferred here from Dayton, one of the things we talk about as a coaching staff was the fact that we added an element to the team that we didn't have, and that is, she is kind of a soccer junkie," said Ferguson. "She's always out on the field, she loves the game."
Now Persaud is trying to transfer her knowledge about the game to the freshmen on the team. With Persaud being an upperclassmen, new players on the team constantly ask her for advice about how to improve their skills and become a better player.
"I just tell them what I think and they take it and try to do what I said," Persaud said.
Wright State is now hoping that Persaud's teachings will translate into more wins for the Raiders.
