Freshman midfielder Sara Field is sure of at least one thing.

"I want to be an All-American, and I want to be noticed by other coaches and other teams as being a threat to them," Field said.

But first she may just have to get over being a freshman.

Although UA head soccer coach Lisa Fraser said Field has improved between the lines from the beginning of the season, her teammates may say she has a ways to go outside of them.

She recalled an embarrassing story that occurred when the team was leaving for the airport to go on its first road trip, to Montana. Field said the team was sitting in the vans ready to leave for the airport when she realized she had left her wallet in her dorm room.

"I went running back to my dorm to get my wallet, but then I discovered that I had forgot my keys in the van. So then I had to run all the way back to the van to get my keys to go get my wallet," Field said, laughing. "When I came back to the van with my wallet everybody was just sitting in the vans laughing at me, saying that I was the biggest freshman that they had ever seen."

Fraser said, however, Field is all business during games, especially lately.

"The first four games she was really learning what it means to play at this level," Fraser said. "But boy, has she turned it on in the last few games. She's learning to play up and down the field and is able to play at a faster pace, which is something she wasn't doing when she first got here."

Field said she has much more confidence in herself now.

"Now I just go out on the field and I know I'm good enough to be here," Field said. "I know I can play with these people. I go out on the field and I'm ready to win."

Field, who is from Brown Deer, Wisc., was named player of the year as a senior at Brown Deer High School and was heavily recruited by the midwestern schools.

She said the warm weather, along with Arizona's facilities, influenced her to become a Wildcat.

"Everything I need is in McKale (Center)," Field said. "They make it easy for the athletes to feel at home and get help."

Field, who became the all-time leading female scorer for her high school during her junior year, also said she felt proud to be a part of Arizona's first recruiting class.

Arizona did not recruit many players during its first two seasons. This season, however, the team recruited 10 players, compared to only two recruits last year.

Field said she was aware that Arizona was a new program in the process of building a team.

"My intention on coming here was mostly that I could help the program grow," Field said. "I could have gone to a bigger school and maybe not have played, but I wanted to play and help out the team."

Field admitted she was a little disappointed with the team's slow start.

"I thought that we were going to come out stronger, but as the season has gone on I can tell that our team play has grown so much," she said. "We're getting used to each other and we are able to help each other on the field to get things done."

Field said Fraser has also seen the team's recent improvements.

"Coach Fraser is always telling us that we have improved so much from last year and in years to come we're going to be a good team," Field said.

Fraser said Field's position, outside midfield, is a very challenging position, but that Field is a high-level player that has the caliber to play on the outside.

"It's one of the most demanding positions on the field and I don't think Sara sees it that way," Fraser said. "Sara just sees it as, 'I want to get in and play and I'm going to do the best job I can.'"

Fraser said Field has a lot of energy and fits in well with everyone around her.

"She's definitely stepped in, and as a freshman started to demand things from those around her, and I think that's important in the leadership role she'll take in the future for us," Fraser said.

Field said that at the beginning of the season she didn't feel comfortable leading the team, but said she fits in better now.

"Now I feel that I can say what I want to say and the team will respect me," Field said.

One of Field's strengths is the ability to motivate herself, Fraser said.

"She sets a lot of small goals for herself which shows how motivated she is," Fraser said.

Field said the freshmen, rather than the upperclassmen, have helped each other adjust to the demands of college.

"From the beginning we've all gotten along and have been helping each other get through the hard times," Field said. "We do everything together and we really help each other like a family."

Field said that, for the most part, she enjoys being on her own.

"I kind of miss my mom doing things for me, like my laundry, and I'm having a hard time adjusting to teachers not telling me exactly what to do," Field said.

But Field has adjusted and put her energies in a new direction. She wants to make a strong impression locally, as well as nationally, while she is at Arizona.

"Physically she's got everything it takes to be a great soccer player," Fraser said. "She's got great skills and great speed, and as experience comes she's just going to get better and better."

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