NEW YORK JET: Olivia Braender-Carr chases down a ball in action last fall during her freshman campaign with the New York University women’s soccer team. Former Hun school star Braender-Carr tallied a goal on the season and helped the Violets advance to the NCAA Division III tournament. She was slated to get her sophomore season underway on September 1 as NYU hosted Johnson and Wales in its season opener. (Photo Courtesy of NYU Sports Information)

After playing defense for most of her career with the Hun School girls’ soccer team, Olivia Braender-Carr was sent up the field as she made her debut last fall for the NYU women’s squad.

“During preseason, coach (Michele Canning) said she wanted to see what I looked like playing up top so I moved to forward,” said Braender-Carr, an All-Prep selection for Hun who helped the Raiders advance to the state Prep A title game in the fall of 2013 as a senior.

“It is definitely different, there is more lateral movement. It is constant movement at outside back, you do a lot of running but this was just as much.”

Braender-Carr didn’t waste time making an impact up top, scoring the lone goal as NYU topped Richard Stockton 1-0 in its 2014 season opener.

“I didn’t know how long I had been in the game; a teammate had the ball on the right side and she played the ball in and there was one defender and the goalie between me and the goal,” said Braender-Carr, recalling the tally.

“It was played close to them; the defender and I collided and she fell into the goalie. The ball came out to the side. I had an open net and I was able to curl it outside in; it was ridiculous. I had no idea that I would score. I hadn’t scored since my senior year at Hun; I had some assists on corner kicks.”

While Braender-Carr didn’t score another goal, she helped NYU catch fire late in the fall as it went 8-2-2 down the stretch after a 3-3 start.

“We had a wakeup call; we wanted to have a good season,” said Braender-Carr.

“We wanted to make the tournament and we wanted to win the conference. We started to win one game after another and we got into a good rhythm. We felt more comfortable playing with each other. We were more focused in practice.”’

The Violets rode that surge into the NCAA Division III tournament, where they fell 2-0 to Amherst College in a first-round contest to finish the season with an 11-6-2 record.

“It was really exciting to be there; to get the at-large bid was great,” said Braender-Carr.

“It was recognition for how far we had come. We didn’t think the ratings reflected how good we were playing.”

In reflecting on her progress, Braender-Carr enjoyed the challenges of moving up to the college level.

“It is faster, for sure,” said Braender-Carr. “It is much more physical, you have to be stronger. It is really different from high school, it is more like club.”

Off the field, Brander-Carr adjusted nicely to the fast-paced lifestyle of going to college in New York City.

“There is always something to do,” said Braender-Carr, who is studying biomolecular engineering.

“You are not on a campus seeing the same people every day, you are in the most diverse city in the world.”

This summer, Braender-Carr underwent a diverse training program to prepare for her sophomore season.

“I played with FC Bucks; I got into a few games and got some touches so that was good,” said Braender-Carr.

“I am also training with my old coach Jorge Rodriguez of FC Bucks. He has been working with 15 girls who are playing in college. We play, train, and hone our skills. He knows a lot. I have been trying to do intervals and long distance running. I need to get myself to last longer.”

With NYU slated to get the 2015 campaign underway by hosting Johnson and Wales in its season opener on September 1, Braender-Carr believes the squad has the skill and mindset to build on last year’s success.

“We all have the mentality to make the tournament again and possibly win the UAA (University Athletic Association),” said Braender-Carr. “The returners are really strong and coming back in good shape. We have some good recruits coming in.”

Braender-Carr, for her part, is looking to be a stronger presence on the field for the Violets.

“I want to be more of an impact player; I want to play more,” said Brander-Carr.

“I am still listed as a forward but we have some injuries at outside back and coach told me to work on my outside back mentality. I think that is where I am most comfortable and strongest but wherever I am needed, I will go.”