For someone who has played soccer since she could run and excelled at basketball since elementary school, Jen Muñoz has had her share of minor injuries. Jammed fingers as a soccer goalie and a broken nose as a basketball forward are something that athletes expect. However, a serious injury, and ACL surgery, to her knee in high school sidelined Jen for an entire basketball and soccer season.
This setback influenced Jen's decision to spend a postgraduate year at the Lawrenceville School. According to Jen, "It was the best thing I ever did." Though she ran the risk of further injury, having an extra year before beginning college helped her to develop as an athlete.
With encouragement from her high school basketball coach, Jen made a visit to Hamilton to sit in on classes and to meet the basketball team and coaching staff. Upon arriving, Jen says "I literally decided that day to come here."
"Although I came here to play basketball," Jen says "I realized how I really love soccer." Last season, in addition to a strong showing on the basketball team, Jen helped to lead the women's soccer team to nine regular season wins (9-3-3). Jen played in the goal for every minute of every game, ending the season with 18 shutouts and a .900 save percentage. Among many other honors, Jen's outstanding performance as a goalkeeper earned her the Defensive Player of the Year award from the New York State Women's Collegiate Athletic Association, selection as the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association's (UCAA) Player of the Year, and selection to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division III All-America First Team.
When she's not on the basketball court or guarding the soccer goal, Jen is working toward a public policy degree. She spent a summer as an intern in a Washington, D.C., law office, working in civil litigation and family law. After graduation, Jen hopes to attend law school, eventually to pursue a career in business.
