Linebacker In Goal

DENTON — Growing up with an older brother who played sports, Kelsey Brann's competitive and fearless nature was woven into her DNA.

Always seeking to be the best, Brann played soccer, gymnastics, softball as well as other sports to fulfill her drive.

At age 12 she asked her father if she could play football. And not as a kicker or even a quarterback like her brother.

She wanted to be a linebacker.

"I want to be the best and I want to give it my all every time," Brann explained. "I believe on a football team linebackers are the toughest and physically make a difference.

"It's a fun position," she added

Though she'd stick with soccer, the North Texas redshirt sophomore goalie plays the game with the adrenaline of a linebacker, and that competitive and tough edge between the pipes has made her one of the best young keepers in the nation. It has also made her a perfect fit with the UNT soccer team aiming to win a Conference USA championship for a sixth consecutive season.

"I've broken two girls' collar bones while playing soccer," Brann mentioned. "I don't take pride in hurting people, but you have to get out of my way or else you're going to get hurt. I don't purposely try to take people out. They're just in my way and then they're on the ground and I'm still standing."

How the Humble, Texas, native found her way into the position of goalie and enforcer wasn't initially by choice.

When Brann began playing, she was up front as a goal-scoring forward. However, when her goalie teammates played poorly and allowed easy goals, she switched positions. Quickly her coaches realized the only chance they had to beat better opponents was by having Brann in net.

But she openly preferred playing the field so much so that when she was recruited to play for another club team they promised she'd only have to play goalie in the big matches.

As she got older and the competition got better, though, she found herself in net more often and, slowly, the position grew on her.

"As a goalie there are probably more opportunities to make big plays that impact a game," Brann said. "I enjoy that pressure. I like it when the crowd cheers when you make a great save. Plus, I think I also just wasn't as good of a forward."

Her success as a keeper has drawn attention and taken her around the world. Prior to going to college, Brann, whose grandfather was born in Monterrey, Mexico, played in the Mexican National Team's system. While playing for Mexico, starting with its under-15 team, Brann — who is fluent in Spanish — played in international tournaments in China, Italy, France and Grenada.

Her ties with the Mexican National Team also led her to Denton.

After spending her freshman season at Tulsa where she didn't play due to an injury sustained in practice during preseason, Brann decided to transfer. When she informed one of her coaches on the Mexican National Team who happened to be close friends with UNT head coach John Hedlund, he immediately told her that Denton was where she needed to go.

"She was a very smart player and competitive as hell," Hedlund said. "I'm always looking for players who have that kind of toughness about them, especially at goalie and defense. I really think she was a perfect fit for this program."

Drawn to UNT by the the suggestion of her trusted coach and the Mean Green's championship pedigree, Brann felt an instant connection when she came on her visit and met the women on the team. But the moment she watched the team play during the 2017 C-USA Tournament is when she was sold.

"The defense was running around so well and they were hitting people and playing with this competitive level that I was definitely looking for," Brann said.

Though she arrived to UNT in the spring of 2018 with exceptional experience and reviews, she knew she'd have to take her game to another level.

"It became clear pretty quickly that this was a championship program," said Brann, who described making an extra effort to improve her fitness once at UNT. "I wanted to make sure I was doing more than just my part to help the team continue to be one of the best. I wanted to help this program go even further than it's ever been."

In her first season with the Mean Green, Brann was everything she was built up to be.

A tenacious presence in goal who plays with her emotions on her sleeve, Brann helped anchor a Mean Green team last year that earned a top 25 national ranking for the first time in program history. She and the UNT defense had a national top-five goals-against average for most of the season, and Brann had her best games on the biggest stages against opponents like against No. 12 Santa Clara, Alabama and at No. 16 Texas A&M in the NCAA Tournament.

She led C-USA in save percentage (.861), goals-against average (.562), shutouts (9) and shutout percentage (.452).

"Kelsey is great to play with because she's able to read the field and communicate with the team," Mean Green captain and defender Dominique James said. "She's a great leader on the field and is always focused on maintaining a great defensive unit."

For her success, Top Drawer Soccer ranked Brann as the nation's third-best freshman goalie last season, and Hedlund believes she has the makeup to be an all-American before she graduates.

"I don't hope to hurt any more opponents," Brann said. "But I have a job to do. And our program has a championship profile to uphold."

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Kelsey Brann

Dominique James

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