Christy Zwolski has always been a gamer.

Growing up in Illinois, Zwolski made a name for herself at a young age as a playmaker and goal scorer. During her high school career at Carmel High School in Mundelein, Illinois, Zwolski set the school record for career goals with 81. She also assisted on 43 additional goals throughout her career, just for good measure.

With a point-filled stat line and an undeniable impact on the field, colleges throughout the midwest began to take notice. Zwolski joined the Marquette University Golden Eagles in Fall 2004. Unsurprisingly, she instantly made her presence known.

During her freshman campaign at Marquette, Christy made 12 appearances for the team. By her sophomore year, she was the team’s leading scorer. Christy went on to graduate from Marquette, ranking fifth in career goals and 10th in assists.

After her collegiate career, Zwolski signed with the New Jersey Sky Blue of the USL Women’s League. She also joined the USASA National Team, even traveling out of country to represent the nation’s best amateur soccer players.

Yet with a thirst for more adventure and an opportunity to continue her professional career, Christy began looking for professional opportunities overseas. In 2008 she signed with the QBIK, a professional women’s team in Karlstad, Sweden. Needless to say, Zwolski’s onfield vision and goal-scoring ability was internationally renowned.

Zwolski also spent a season with Heidelberg United Football Club based in Melbourne, Australia. Heidelberg is recognized as one of the premier soccer clubs in the country, both men’s and women’s teams.

At the conclusion of the 2015 season, Christy moved back to the United States looking to further her career in pediatric medicine. Recognizing the devastating toll that significant knee injuries can take on young-female athletes, Christy has dedicated her career to studying the impact that anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction can have on a young athletes knee function and biomechanics.

“Young female athletes are already starting at a disadvantage, so knee health in general is huge for girls” Zwolski said. “Because we know that if a young-female athlete were to suffer any type of knee injury during her athletic career she is much more likely to get osteoarthritis from it, and that just becomes a big quality of life issue.”

Serving as an inspiration off-the field, Christy continues to enjoy a wildly successful playing career. She is entering her fourth season with the Cincinnati Sirens, and is looking to help the team compete for a playoff berth in their fourth WPSL campaign.

Last year, the Sirens finished fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference and are looking to take the final steps necessary to clinching a spot in the postseason.

“I think we will surprise a lot of people here, with the talent and the culture that we bring to the game,” Zwolski said. “It’s more than just the 11 that you will see on the field. It’s our whole organization. It’s really impressive, and I think we’re really going to shock some people.”

The Sirens immediately jump into high-level action against their in-state rivals, the Cleveland Ambassadors. The Ambassadors have established themselves as a perennial East Region power after enjoying an undefeated regular season during 2018. The match will take place Saturday at Lakota West High School in Cincinnati, and kicks off at 7:00 pm eastern time.

With a raucous crowd behind them, Cincinnati is looking to set the tone for what could be a surprising 2019 campaign.

“Right off the bat, we get this test of where we stand against a club that continually makes it into the top-ten and top-four in the nation,” Zwolski said. “We are gearing up for a big, big game, particularly because it is at home.”

Regardless of how the Sirens’ season plays out, Christy Zwolski will surely continue to be a leader both on and off the field. Her dedication to the health and well-being of young female athletes is a true testament to what it means to be a member of the WPSL.