Jenny Dannecker's scoring rampage over the past two weeks has helped the Bulls hold tightly to the MAC's eighth and final playoff spot.
Dannecker has been virtually unstoppable in the past five games. She has scored three goals and recorded two assists.
A history major from East Amherst, Dannecker began playing soccer at the age of four. She was a standout athlete in high school earning four letters while scoring 136 goals. She recorded seven hat tricks in her junior year in 2000. Dannecker is a four-time Monsignor Martin All-Catholic selection and was voted league MVP in 2000. She made All-WNY First Team as a senior and Second Team as a junior. To highlight her offensive aptitude, Dannecker was the leading scorer in the Monsignor Martin League all four years of high school.
In 2003 Dannecker ranked fourth on the Bulls in goals with three. She was also first in points, with seven, and Dannecker scored a goal in the Bulls' first ever win over MAC perennial powerhouse, Miami (Ohio).
Dannecker chose Buffalo over other competing MAC schools because she knew Coach Jean Tassy. The fact that UB is in close proximity to her hometown also swayed Dannecker's decision.
"I knew coach (Jean) Tassy since I was young. He was my club coach when I was younger. I also wanted to be close to my family so that they can come to the games, and UB was five minutes away so it was a perfect fit," said Dannecker.
A complete team player, Dannecker thinks of herself as a leader by example, and always puts the needs of others first. She is never worried about her own stats as long as the team does well.
"I'm not a vocal athlete, I tend to lead by example. I do what I can to help this team win," said Dannecker.
Although Dannecker is a senior with many great moments under her belt, she believes that her greatest moment actually came this season in an important conference match-up against Toledo.
"The hat trick a few days ago was pretty special. We played a really good game and needed a spark," she said.
The hat trick definitely ignited the Bulls, and since that game they have won four of their last five games including three in a row to place UB into the final playoff spot pending the result of the Bowling Green vs. Toledo game on Thursday night.
Dannecker likes to unwind by playing a couple of games of racquetball or by watching the latest episode of "Without a Trace." She also enjoys reading all of the books in the "Harry Potter" series.
Her favorite athlete is Jason Varitek and Dannecker has been a Red Sox fan ever since she was two years old. If she could date any celebrity it would have to be Ben Affleck because he is talented and a Red Sox fan, she said.
Dannecker plans on attending graduate school for education and she has future aspirations of becoming a teacher and hopefully a coach.
At the moment, however, Dannecker said she is going to miss playing soccer and the friendships that she has made with the other girls on the team.
"I'm going to miss the girls and being able to play competitive soccer the most," she said.
Dannecker hopes to get one last chance to shine on the competitive soccer scene as the Bulls continue to keep their playoff hopes alive. UB's playoff fate will be revealed following the outcome of a contest between Toledo and Bowling Green. The Bulls need a tie between the two teams in order to claim the eighth and final MAC playoff spot.
Five random Questions:
Q: Finish this sentence. In 10 years I will be ...
A: Hopefully married with kids, with a nice teaching job.
Q: If you could have any superpower would it be?
A: (I would want to be able to) read people's minds.
Q: Yes or No: Have you ever received a speeding ticket?
A: Yes.
Q: What are you dressing as for Halloween?
A: Me and my roommate are going to be Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding.
Q: If you were stranded on a deserted island what one thing would you bring along?
A: A radio.
