After Danielle Kot graduated last year, there were big shoes to fill defensively on this year’s Illini soccer team.

A senior this year, Jenna Carosio made a position change to help fill the gap.

“She made a position change this year from the midfield to the center back and it was one we had planned on,” head coach Janet Rayfield said. “The thing about a center back is, it’s a position from which you have to lead. Jenna has filled that role exceptionally well.”

Carosio has played 1,014 minutes and scored one goal so far this season as a center back. Sophomore Kassidy Brown looks to Carosio for direction on the defensive line.

“I would say she is a main leader, especially at the defensive end,” Brown said. “A lot of times Janet says things like, ‘Whatever Jenna says goes.’ She is a main leader physically and vocally on the field.”

Carosio has tallied two Academic All–Big Ten awards her sophomore and junior years, proving her leadership on and off the field. Rayfield said Carosio has done well in her new position and has applied her new leadership onto the field.

“She is one of our captains,” Rayfield said. “The position on the field, she couldn’t play that position if she couldn’t and didn’t and wasn’t a leader on the field. She also has that discipline and determination and all of the kinds of things you want in a leader off of the field as well.”

Rayfield noticed early on in the season that Carosio felt very comfortable in her new position on the field and goes above and beyond what her position requires.

“She not only plays the position and does the things that the position does, but actually leading the team, organizing and doing all those things,” Rayfield said. “Danielle Kot was one of the best and Jenna has filled her shoes very well.”

Carosio enjoys starting each game and going the distance because she can remember the days when she sat on the bench.

“I hate coming off the field. I like being able to have an influence on the game. When I was a freshman I didn’t play a whole lot and it was frustrating to see things not go right and not be able to be a part of it.”

Carosio looks to set a good example along the back line with younger team member Brown alongside of her. Brown was injured last season and didn’t see much collegiate playing time. She returns this season healed and ready to learn from Carosio.

“She knows what she is doing, especially with the three backs. I trust her whenever she tells me what to do and I do it,” Brown said. “She is very good with constructive criticism in a sense where if I don’t see a girl all the way on the outside she will tell me to step out there. She tells me what to do on the field that I don’t see myself.”

Rayfield leaves Carosio in for the entirety of the game because she has been placed in an important position this season, with the change in the Illini’s formation.

“If you look at the back, the goalkeeper and defense has leadership that you want to be really stable,” Rayfield said. “Especially this year with us playing in a three back, her experience back there and her leadership back there is something very difficult for us to play without.”