Kendall Pata

Kansas State

Sep 18 (Thu)

7 p.m.

Position:
Defender
Height:
5-10
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Littleton, Colo.
High School:
Chatfield

1999 Big 12 All-Academic first team
2000 Big 12 All-Academic first team
2001 Big 12 All-Academic first team

Senior (2001): One of the team's co-captains, Pata made 11 starts and 13 appearances as a defender after spending the spring semester studying abroad in Italy. She did not record any statistics during the season, but was a key part of the team's defense all season long.

Junior (2000): Pata showed gradual recovery from an ACL injury suffered midway through the 1999 season, coming on strong late in the season to record good defensive performances. Thriving in the flatback-four formation, she demonstrated excellent ability to step forward and win opponents through balls.

Sophomore (1999): As an experienced Buff defender, Pata started all of the 12 games she played in before injuring her knee in the 4-2 loss to Oklahoma on Oct. 1. Although she did tear her anterior cruciate, posterior cruciate and medial collateral as well as her meniscus, only the ACL required repair as the other two ligaments and her meniscus had scarred over and healed. Her femur was also not fractured as was originally thought, but only bruised. Prior to her injury, she established herself as one of the premier defenders in the Big 12. Her size and ability to read a play made her a valuable member of the squad and a formidable opponent. During her play, she led the young Buff defense in their stellar performances and limited their opponents in shots. Normally a stay-at-home defender, Pata tallied her first collegiate shot during the Buff’s first homestand against Wyoming on Sept. 5. After learning of the severity of her knee injury, CU’s team dedicated the rest of their season to her. She was named first-team academic all-Big 12 on Nov. 1.

Freshman (1998): Started all but the season opener for the Buffs, usually given the difficult assignment of covering the opposition's most potent offensive weapon. Did not register a shot, goal or assist on the season, as Pata was very well disciplined in her role as a marking back and rarely came forward.

High School: A three-year letterwinner for head coach Cindy Cannon and Chatfield, Pata was a first-team all-Jefferson County League selection following both her junior and senior years. She served as the Chargers' captain both years, and was a starter on defense her sophomore through senior seasons. The Chargers won the state title her sophomore campaign, using a suffocating defense to edge Heritage 1-0 and claim the crown, a victory Pata says was the biggest moment in her prep career. Chatfield qualified for the state quarterfinals her senior year and the first round of the playoffs her junior campaign.

Personal: Born Jan. 12, 1980, in Denver, Kendall Jordan Pata is the daughter of Steve and Julie Pata. Her father, Steve, attended Colorado in the mid-seventies, and her younger sister Kylah is a junior at CU. Pata's hobbies include skiing, reading and participating in any sport. She is a certified scuba diver.

In The Classroom: She is majoring in fine arts-studio at Colorado in the College of Arts & Sciences. Kendall was awarded the McAllister Scholar award following the 1999-2000 academic year, the highest academic honor a non-senior can earn from the CU Athletic Department. She has spent all six semesters on the Dean’s List and spent the spring 2001 semester studying abroad in Italy. She will carry a 3.727 grade point average into her final season at CU.