SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: Alexandra Gjonaj
11/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
Mother/daughter relationships are often sacred, but to Michigan State women's soccer senior defender Alexandra Gjonaj they mean everything.
"My mom is my best friend who I'll always have by my side no matter what," Gjonaj said. "The relationship I have with my mom is truly the greatest relationship I have with anyone in my life. She is the strongest woman I know, and if I can become half the woman she is, I'll be extremely thankful."
Coming to the U.S. as a toddler as an immigrant from Yugoslavia, Gjonaj's mother, Leza, the oldest of seven children, was forced to take care of her six younger siblings through her adolescent years.
"With my mom growing up immigrating from Yugoslavia, she has shown me that no matter what, don't ever give up on your dreams," Gjonaj said.
"Being the only girl in my family, my mom and I have done everything together since I can remember. She has never missed one of my games and traveled with me to all my tournaments growing up. Whether they were in-state or out-of-state, my mom was always there on the sideline."
Gjonaj is big on her Spartan Family as well. Every game day, the senior wraps her wrists with tape featuring the words "Spartan Family" sprawled in Sharpie. The senior cites the best part of her career as a Spartan as "becoming part of the best athletic family."
"The feeling of having 34+ girls to call my 'sisters' and having their unconditional support has truly been a blessing these past four years," she said sentimentally. "I chose to attend MSU because of the coaching staff and the way they supported academics and most importantly, your family."
Although visiting "many other schools" her sophomore year of high school before verbally committing to MSU, Gjonaj said "no other school compared to MSU's support of school and academics."
"And not to mention, our campus is the most beautiful in the Midwest," she said while playfully smirking.
Starting every game she has played in this season, Gjonaj has not always had the luxury of being a regular starter. Playing on the B team for the Michigan Hawks club team, she eventually battled her way to an A team playing position.
" I only made it to half the tryouts that year so they automatically threw me onto the B team," Gjonaj said. "After two years of dominating the center midfield and occasionally playing with the A team in various tournaments, the new coach, Derek Williford, took me on his team, and I played for the A team ever since."
Overcoming obstacles and those who doubted her, Gjonaj proved to everyone that she had true potential as she, along with her teammates, won a national championship with the Hawks in 2012. She said that "making it all the way and becoming the number one team made her club soccer career end on the best note possible."
Although a defensive staple for the Spartans, Gjonaj is known for her lethal corner kicks. She converted one such kick against Illinois on Oct. 8 for her first goal of the season, which was good enough to draw with the Fighting Illini.
The senior defender has played in 64 games in her collegiate career starting 38, including starting every game she played in this season. With three goals and seven assists for a total 13 points, Gjonaj registered 23 shots and 14 shots on goal in her career as a defender.
Known for her defensive prowess, this attribute was not something achieved overnight. She attributes her toughness and gritty style of play to working hard on her confidence as well as beating opponents on one-on-one challenges for possession.
"Becoming one of the toughest defenders on the roster took a lot of mental and physical determination," she said. "With being one of the thinner players, it's hard to get stuck into tackles and come out on top. But, with hard work and confidence, beating girls on one v. one in the back line and winning the majority of my tackles has caused me to have a very aggressive attitude on the field."
One of Gjonaj's favorite aspects of being a Spartan is the camaraderie shared by fellow student-athletes, as evidenced by quarterback Tyler O'Connor, offensive lineman Jack Conklin and other football players attending just about every home women's soccer game.
"At the end of the day, we're playing the sport we love," Gjonaj said. "It just so happens to make us that much closer knowing we both put the Spartan jersey on every weekend in the fall season."
Although her collegiate soccer career has come to a close, Gjonaj optimistically is looking forward to starting the next chapter of her life in a big city.
"My plan for my future after MSU is to land a job working at an advertising agency in a bigger city like Chicago," she said excitedly. "I've always dreamed about living in Chicago, so my one goal is to make it there sooner than later."
In the remainder of her time at MSU, Gjonaj will continue to live her life on MSU's campus to its fullest extent, whether it be attending home football games or making memories with teammates.
