Coach Cristy Freese points toward Netto as the difference-maker. She noted it’s of equal importance to the quarterback in football, pitcher in baseball and point guard in basketball.

“We have to put a good defense around her,” Freese said. “We still have to score goals, so it’s not all on her, but I just know that good teams and the teams that are good in the conference have (goalies) that are certainly a key ingredient in most years,” Freese said.

Freese believes CMU contains that piece.

“Because she got a season under her belt, I really feel she can step up and have a better feel of what to expect on game day and be able to be more consistent from game to game,” Freese said.

Netto also has high expectations.

“My goalkeeping coach and I have actually talked about this a lot and I would like to be a first team All-MAC selection,” Netto said.

Freese pointed out that Netto performed well in the preseason.

“Last year we were teaching her a lot of things and in the game situations she was doing a lot of learning,” Freese said. “These first two weeks were not teaching her as much as refining some things with her.”

Netto’s first season starting in 2010 contained mixed results.

“I thought she had some brilliant games last year, but as any young player and I think young in her experience level, I think you’re going to have some inconsistency in her play,” Freese said.

Freese said Netto’s low point of the season was against Mid-American Conference champion Kent State, when she allowed seven goals in 41 minutes of play.

“I didn’t think of benching her after that, I just think you want to just make sure she’s over it and moves on and makes the corrections she needs to make,” Freese said.

Netto seemed to put it behind her. She allowed five goals in the next three games, in an improved effort against Kent State, she allowed four goals.

Freese and Netto’s coach-goalie relationship is what is expected.

“Sometimes she gets the extremes of me more than other players,” Freese said. “Sometimes at the end of week I’ll leave her alone a little bit more and that being said, in the beginning I think there’s certainly times that I really get on her, especially now that she’s been in the program as long as she has.”

“Quiet” is how Freese describes Netto. Furthermore, each and every sentence that comes from Netto is precise and well thought out.

“I think we all joke goalkeepers are a little different,” Freese said. “I think they have to be. They’re somewhat isolated in practice. A lot of what they’re doing with their skill work is on their own.”

One of the many reasons Netto picked CMU was because of the Chippewas’ coaching staff.

“Cristy and her staff were very welcoming to me when I first called them and spoke to them,” Netto said.

CMU also fits into her desire to major in accounting. She also loves the city of Mount Pleasant.

“To be honest, when I looked on the website I saw so many beautiful pictures of CMU’s campus,” Netto said. “It’s proven to be a very nice place to live.”

The climate is something she has become acclimated to after living in warm conditions year-round in her home country, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

“Here, in August, people are running outside on the track at like 8 a.m. and she’s got a sweatshirt on because she thinks it’s cold and it was probably 70 degrees out,” Freese said.

When Netto was in middle school, she became intrigued with field hockey. Coaches at her secondary school recruited new members and Netto selected field hockey over soccer.

Netto first wanted to be a forward, but realized goalie was better suited for her skill set.

“My coach noticed I had very good reaction time, so she suggested I try that position if I ever wanted to get in the game,” Netto said.

Thereafter, she played for the Saint Joseph Convent field hockey club team and earned an invitation to play on the Trinidad junior national team at the age of 15. Netto continues to take pride in her role that few have the skills and characteristics to partake in.

“(You have to have) reflexes, protective instincts and you really need to have a big heart,” Netto said. “Goalies are very passionate about what they do. If you’re not passionate of the goalie (position), I don’t think they’re going to have a lot of success.”