Defending against powerful crosses each match was not what goalkeeper Christa Conway hoped for when she came to Arizona.

Conway expected to be a backup goalkeeper and spend the season gaining confidence guarding the net during practice, not in games. However, a knee injury to senior goalkeeper Jen Weibel against Wyoming on Sept. 30 has forced Conway to take over as the starter.

Conway joined the soccer team this season after taking 1 1/2 years off from training. She decided to take the time off after she broke her jaw in a soccer game after a collision in front of the net during her senior year of high school.

"I didn't know if I wanted to play anymore," Conway said. "Breaking my jaw was traumatic and I was discouraged. I wanted to just go into college and just be a normal college student."

Conway, who grew up in Fairfield, Conn., attended the University of Connecticut her freshman year. She had visited Arizona during her junior year of high school, but when she transferred, she was not sure if she wanted to play soccer. She stopped in at head coach Lisa Fraser's office last April to find out about the program.

"I went into Coach's office and told her my situation, and she said she was looking for 'keepers and to come out," Conway said.

Fraser said Conway's timing was perfect because the team had just found out one of its goalkeepers would not be returning this season.

"It was too late to recruit a new goalkeeper and we knew we would have a spot open," Fraser said.

Conway missed the competition and decided to join the Wildcats and resume her soccer career.

"Playing on a team is what I identify with," she said.

Conway has been forced to step in and prove herself this past month - not an easy task, considering she had played in just one game in the past 1 1/2 years before Weibel's injury. So far, Conway has recorded 37 saves and one solo shutout in the six games she has started.

Replacing a goalkeeper who had started all of Arizona's games since its existence and who was voted most valuable player by the team last season was not an easy task.

"I didn't want to let the team down," Conway said. "Jen is a really good 'keeper and it is hard to fill her shoes."

Weibel said Conway has improved a lot since she took over as the starter.

"She has gained a lot of confidence since her first start against Gonzaga," Weibel said. "I saw a huge difference in her game last weekend against USC."

The soccer team will be looking to add another goalkeeper next season since Weibel will be graduating, but Conway said she would like to remain the starter.

"I want to continue to improve and stay focused and confident with myself," she said. "That's all I can ask for."

Despite all of the pressure, Conway is happy that she has been able to step in for the team.

"I came in here thinking, 'OK, there is a senior in front of me and I'll just be backup, and I'll train and if I get some playing time that's great,'" Conway said. "I never thought she would get hurt and I would have to replace her, so it was kind of a shock - a good shock, though."

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