Poulos Keeping Sharp in Goal with Sky Blue

“I played one game on the field and I couldn’t stand watching the guy playing goal because he was terrible,” Poulos said. “So I asked if I could play [goalkeeper] and I ended up staying there.”

She never looked back.

In Australia, you have to pay to play soccer. Poulos started working from the young age of 14 at a cafeteria. When she was older, she worked at a bar and at clinics. She was not giving up on her hope to play soccer in the United States. Poulos got in contact with a friend of a friend who knew the coach at Winthrop.

“I really just sent him a tape and he told me what I needed to do and I kind of went from there,” said Poulos, who knew this would be her last chance. “[I was] 20. At the time I thought, if I don’t do this now I’m never going to do it.”

She was offered a partial scholarship and then after her first semester, Winthrop gave her a full scholarship.

“I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t on a scholarship. I didn’t have the funds.”

The Fitness and Wellness major is going into her last year at Winthrop. She has another two semesters in class, and her last semester is an internship. Poulos hopes to graduate by the end of next summer or fall. She is also a certified personal trainer and massage therapist, which could be a good or bad thing.

“Since [my team] found out, every day it’s a question and I can’t be bothered. They always ask me. Just 10 minutes ago I got asked. I knew I should keep it to myself for a reason.”

When Poulos first arrived at Winthrop, she enjoyed the training aspect considerably. Attending a small school does have some drawbacks. However Winthrop, which is in the Big South Conference, does not get as much exposure as larger, better known conferences like the Pac-10 or the ACC. She has deliberated whether or not she should have gone to a bigger school, but in the end she feels that this was the best decision.

“I kind of made a name for myself because at a smaller school as a goalkeeper I get more work.”

Poulos has been the starting goalkeeper at Winthrop since she stepped onto campus in 2005. She was voted the 2006 Big South Player of the Year and named to the All-Big South first team in 2007. Going into her final year at Winthrop, Poulos has another goal for herself - to make it to the NCAA Tournament. Last season, her team was knocked out in the second round of the Big South Conference tournament. The only way for her team to get a bid into the NCAA tournament would be to win the conference.

In her summers off, Poulos played in the WPSL for the Central Florida Strikers in 2006 and Rush Salt Lake City in 2007. She won Southwest Goalkeeper of the Year honors with Salt Lake City.

“My assistant coach was there and she ended up finishing up at Winthrop and she told a couple of our players to go out there and play and it ended up being perfect.”

This year, Poulos decided to play for Jersey Sky Blue. It would be the perfect opportunity to be part of a program that would be going professional in 2009. A simple email to head Coach Denise Reddy was all she needed.

“I don’t really know what happened after that. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into.”

The situation was more than ideal. Denise Reddy was in need of a backup goalkeeper to fill the void that 2007 Sky Blue player Erin Guthrie left when she could not play due to an injury. The Australian keeper has played in just one regular season game serving as the backup for starter Jillian Loyden. Poulos went the distance and registered the shutout in a 2-0 victory over the Fredericksburg Lady Gunners on June 22.

Poulos hopes to move into the professional ranks after gaining experience playing for Jersey Sky Blue.

“I was really excited to know that I was here at the right time for it. Not to say that I’d make it or anything like that, but I’m in the right environment right now to have the opportunity to get an invite to a combine.”

Poulos is definitely in the right environment. Ian Sawyers, the head coach for the 2009 NJ/NY Sky Blue, worked with the team during his appearance in New Jersey in June.

“I haven’t really spoken to him personally myself, but he seems like a good coach and he seems to really know his stuff.”

Poulos loves the daily training regiment and she speaks of her coaches in high esteem.

“Denise is consistent. She’ll tell you what she thinks and I like that. I like a person who’s going to be a bit hard on you. Brian [Hayward – the goalkeeper coach] is probably one of the best coaches I’ve had.”

During practice, Poulos picks a topic for the day to work on that focuses on different aspects of goalkeeping. They might break down crossing or work on breakaways or footwork. Despite playing for Sky Blue, Poulos also trains for her return to the soccer field at Winthrop. She does plyometrics, body weight exercises, and she runs as much as her body will let her after practice.

Preparation is not only measured in fitness and footwork. The backup goalkeeper always has to be mentally prepared to enter the game at any moment. In college, Poulos always started, so coming in off the bench after the initial whistle is a new challenge for her.

“As a goalkeeper there is so much demand on you, so it’s kind of tough coming in later into the game. So that’s one thing I really think about a lot is just to stay mentally prepared, knowing that you might or might not get in goal.”

Besides trying to avoid giving daily massages to her teammates, Poulos is limited in her daily activities outside of soccer. She’s not allowed to work due to her status as an international student. But even though she’s on a strict budget, Poulos still manages to do some sightseeing in New York City.

“It’s way too hectic for my lifestyle, but it’s good to see something different.”

Dimitra Poulos hopes to eventually free herself from the confines of the penalty box and maybe see herself in the same color uniform as her teammates.

“I would love to play on the field. That’s the future. When I hang my gloves it’s going to be up front that I’m going to retire. One season up front, then I’m done.”