A Leading Tiger
 
In the fall of 2014, Towson Athletics established a program called L.E.a.D. Tigers to help identify student-athletes early in their careers who have shown high levels of talent, both in the classroom and in competition, to build their leadership capacity through mentoring and individualized programs for personal growth.
 
If Towson women's soccer player Katie Ponce wasn't in her final year as a Tiger, she would have been an excellent candidate.
 
In 2014 the Westfield, New Jersey native earned third team NSCAA/Continental Tire All-Mid-Atlantic Region honors after leading the Tigers with six goals and one assist for 13 points. She had three game-winning goals as a senior, including one against Delaware in a match that turned out to be a key to Towson making the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Tournament for the first time in program history. She earned CAA Player of the Week honors for the week of Oct. 20 after scoring two goals in two games. Ponce finished her career tied for 16th in career points at Towson (12g, 4a, 28pts).
 
"This season was definitely the quickest one yet," she remarked. "Some really high moments, and some lows are the ones that stand out. For example, I will unfortunately always remember losing my last chance to beat a team like Loyola, and JMU. Those games are tough to forget. But the memories that will outlast those are winning games like beating Radford 3-0, and the unbelieving feeling of beating Delaware and William & Mary. Those of the ones I'm going to talk about for years to come."
 
Each season finishes with its favorite moments. Ponce found it hard to pick her most memorable one after a career full of them.
 
"My whole experience is one I am going to remember," she said. "One that particularly comes to mind, though, is the bus ride back after my last away game during the CAA playoffs [in 2014].
 
"All of the things the seniors went through our careers and thinking about what was next for all of us. Those are my best friends, and to be together one last time, doing what we love, was a great memory."
 
As a two-year co-captain, Ponce was in a unique position to help her peers, and she did her best to set the underclassmen on the right track.
 
"I hope I taught them how much caring really matters," she stated. "I think a lot of those younger girls who are going to take my role are already as good a player as me, if not better. I think the second those girls have the desire to want to score, and to want to work the hardest they can every day, they're going to be unbelievable assets for the future Towson women's soccer teams."
 
Off the field, Ponce is a leader in the classroom as well. The midfielder helped the women's soccer team earn the NCAA Public Recognition Award for team academic achievement the last two straight academic years. In order to earn the award, teams must rank in the top 10 percent of the NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rate (APR).
 
She has been heavily involved with Towson's Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) the last two years, serving as treasurer in 2013-14 and as president in 2014-15. Ponce oversees a representative committee of student-athletes from each of Towson's sports. Additionally, this year she will also be a part of Towson University's Council of Student Leaders.
 
Despite the time required by practice and games, Ponce intends to be an active president.
 
"Next semester gets a little busier than this fall and winter season," she noted. "Traditionally, SAAC will get ready for the end-of-the-year banquet. A new thing for next semester is having a whole week to collect food for the CAA can food drive, so this will be more work than in previous years.
 
"We also have a very passionate executive board, and with [swimmer] Erik Ripley as the initial leader, we are working on making some changes to get the student-athlete culture more involved with each other's activities. We will be adding incentives to go to games involving our social media presence, and hopefully making a student-athlete section at games."
 
But the business administration major is not quite ready to give up on her favorite sport just yet. Ponce hopes to continue to play soccer after graduation, postponing the working world just a little longer.
 
"I have a lot of time to be an adult and I want to play soccer, hopefully overseas," said Ponce of her post-grad plans. "I think it would be another amazing experience. If that doesn't work out, though, plan B is applying to any and all marketing jobs here in Baltimore or going back home to work in New York City."
 
Regardless of what lies ahead, Katie Ponce's willingness to work hard and her innate leadership abilities will give her a good start.