Henderson's Talk Cements Leadership Role

As anyone who knows Kelly Henderson can tell you, she loves to talk. Whether in casual conversation, on the soccer pitch, or during an interview, the women's soccer captain puts others at ease when she makes her voice heard. When she has something to say, everyone listens. It's the senior's ability to engage her audience that has Boston College not only atop the ACC for the first time but also poised for a run at the Final Four.

"Whereas in the past it's been our goal to make it to the Sweet 16 and we would have been happy to get to the Elite Eight, this year our aspirations are the Final Four," Henderson says. "We are striving to go further than we've ever gone because we know how talented our team is."

While much press has been given to freshmen phenoms Victoria DiMartino and Kristen Mewis, as well as co-captain Gina DiMartino, Henderson is largely responsible for orchestrating the team for 90 minutes, ensuring every girl is playing up to her potential. In past years, Henderson admits the accountability factor has been lacking; however, this season, she is not hesitant to call her teammate out and let her know she needs to be better.

"If you know someone isn't performing up to their standards, we are not hesitant to push people this year," Henderson says. "Everyone has the same goals and same mindset, so no one takes it personally when you are - not necessarily yelling at them - but pushing them to their best."

What helps Henderson hold all of her teammates accountable is her offseason switch from midfielder to center defender. Although she had switched from defense to midfield in the past, Henderson, who had eight goals and 13 assists entering this season, was accustomed to helping her team more directly. But that's when head coach Alison Kulik sat her down in the spring.

"With the absence of Caroline Walden, who was a great leader in our senior class last year, we didn't think that a freshman could come in and give us that leadership," Kulik says. "That center back position is such a big organizational position, and we thought that Kelly had all the leadership qualities to do that and certainly was a good enough defender to do that."

After digesting the idea that she would be resigned to the back line and no longer had the freedom to run around at will, Henderson embraced her new permanent position. She had to understand she would not be consistenly scoring goals, but she instead was now able to direct the other 10 players more easily with her improved vantage point. In other words, she could lead.

"In the beginning, it was a difficult transition because we weren't playing the top teams, so I felt like it was a lot slower back there," Henderson says. "It's easier to be more of a leader back there because you see so much more than I realized you even saw at midfield. I love it now, so it's funny because I look back to two months ago when I was dying to be back in the midfield, but I love playing with our back line."

It's clear Henderson is comfortable back there. In the Eagles' 1-0 victory over Duke Thursday, she could be heard. When Victoria was not in position for the defense's clears, Henderson asserted her role and had a conversation with the star freshman about getting to the ball quicker - from across the field.

Audible but not overbearing, Henderson constantly talks with her fellow players on the back line to keep them on the same page and shouts instructions to the midfield and forwards when she sees something needs to be tweaked. The close relationship she has with her back line permeates to the relationship she has with the rest of the team, which allows her to critique, such as with Victoria against Duke, without seeming harsh.

"The relationships that the four of us have together, we can yell at each other and be like, 'Hey that's not good enough,' and they won't take it the wrong way," Henderson says. "When the person next to you knows you can do better, it's a good feeling because they also know how much you're capable of, and you don't want to disappoint them or the coach or anyone.

"In the past, you couldn't get on top of someone like that without breaking their spirits down or have a little argument, but you don't want to disappoint who you are playing next to anymore."

Holding others responsible for their play on the field remains vital to BC's success. The team is loaded with talent in all three positions, but if one player slacks, a goal becomes a missed shot. Henderson, who has gone to the bench in only the 5-0 blowout of Clemson last week, stays on the field to ensure that doesn't happen. And teammates have noticed her level of commitment, both in practice and during a game, and want to compete for her.

"I think because of what she's done for this program and how she's built this program and how people feel about Kelly, everyone works that much harder to make her aspirations come true before she leaves," Kulik says.

When asked about what it would mean to advance to the Final Four in her final year, Henderson has to pause. Her dream commands a bit of silence in order to sort out the words needed to describe it.

"I feel like we would do anything to get there," Henderson says with a smile. "I can't even imagine how great that feeling would be."

It's an idea that renders Henderson speechless.