Nina Simon: St. Joe Soccer, MVP "Athlete of the Week"

Nina Simon is a junior defender for one of the top soccer teams in the Midwest. Defenders don't get a chance to pile up statistics, but her defensive skills and ability to set up forwards makes a great deal of difference on this team.

Already, she has agreed to play college ball at Arkansas State University. This is what Simon told Patch.com.

Patch.com: How is your season going?

Nina Simon: We are off to a great start.  We play a really difficult schedule and I feel like we are really starting to play well at the right time.   We have great coaching and are really coming together as a team with everyone contributing. Our team never gives up.

Patch: What is the favorite thing about being on your team?

NS: We are all really close, have great chemistry and have a great time together.  We work well together and know what needs to be done to achieve our goals.  We have each other's backs on and off the field.

Patch: Name some special Accomplishments this season:

NS: I believe our biggest accomplishment is that we play together as a team with a never quit attitude.  We know that it takes  to win and we don't rely on just one person.  We have a very strong bench and we all have confidence in each other.

The offense and the defense work very well together.  I think this will help us as the season progresses.

Patch: Which athlete do you admire most and why?

NS: The athlete I admire most is Jackie Joyner Kersee because she had to overcome many challenges to become the world's best female athlete. She set goals and worked very hard to achieve them.

Patch: Favorite song in your I-pod?

NS: My favorite song right now is "I love it" by Icona Pop.

Previous MVP's of the Week

Anna Nelson, Ladue track & field

Klasey Medelberg, MICDS soccer

Kaley Nieters, St. Joe soccer

Monday, voting begins on MVP for week No. 5.