Heather Zonker

Kansas State

Sep 18 (Thu)

7 p.m.

Position:
Midfielder
Height:
5-3
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Littleton, Colo.
High School:
Arapahoe

2001 Big 12 All-Academic second team

Senior (2001): Zonker started all 16 games as a midfielder during her senior season and finished with a goal and two assists. She earned an assist against Denver on Sept. 18 and another in a 2-2 draw with No. 6 Texas Tech on Sept. 30. Zonker scored the game's only goal in a 1-0 win over Colorado College on Oct. 21 on a free kick in the 56th minute.

Junior (2000): The Buffalo junior proved to be one of the most crucial players in the CU lineup, and was the second-leading scorer on the team with three goals. She scored perhaps the best goal of the season against Texas A&M, as she crushed a frozen rope to the far upper-90 against the Aggies. She suffered a severe ankle sprain against Nebraska, but due to 36 hours of ice and rehab, was able to return against Iowa State. She leads the all-time junior year lists in points (42) and assists (5) while her three goals are fourth and 42 shots are second, respectively.

Sophomore (1999): Zonker continued to bring depth to the midfield as an important playmaker. She started in all 20 games. Zonker was second on the team in shots for the year (Melissa Cartmell) with 47. With five goals, a career high, and two assists last season, Zonker had a total of 12 points in 1999, including the only goals in shutouts against intrastate rivals Colorado College (1-0) and the Denver (1-0).

Freshman (1998): Zonker was one of six Buffs to start all 20 games for Colorado, all at the center midfield spot. She notched one goal and two assists from her position and recorded 43 shots on the season, good for the fifth spot on the shots in a single season list. Her then-43 career shots stood as the fifth best mark on the career shots list. She recorded a career-best six shots against George Washington on Sept. 6, and recorded her first collegiate goal and assist against UMass on Sept. 25.

High School: A four-year letterwinner for head coach Kirk Bast and Arapahoe, Zonker was a key component on an Arapahoe team that sported a remarkable 82-4-2 record over the span of her career as a prep. She earned all-state mention her sophomore through senior seasons (honorable mention as a sophomore, first-team as a junior and all-Colorado as a senior), and was also a four-time all-Continental League selection. Zonker tallied 47 goals and 60 assists in her four years at Arapahoe, teaming with current Nebraska standout Kelly Rheem to form one of the most powerful 1-2 offensive punches in the history of soccer in the state. She was also a high school teammate of current Buff Susan Kiefer, and the pair claimed the 1995 state championship for Arapahoe and made it to the state tournament quarterfinals in 1996 and 1997. She lists the biggest moments of her high school career as the state championship wins. Zonker qualified for the Olympic Development Program (ODP) regional team last year, played with the Lakewood Fury club team for three years, helping lead the Fury to the regional title in 1997.

Personal: Born July 1, 1980, in Wheat Ridge, Colo., Her hobbies are hiking and other outdoor activities.

In The Classroom: Zonker is majoring in sociology at Colorado, and posted a 3.4 cumulative grade point average at Arapahoe.