Workrate and intensity: her coach says those are the qualities that make James Madison senior Corky Julien stand out on the soccer field.

And women's coach Dave Lombardo thinks it comes from growing up in Canada.

"Coach always says that I have a hockey mentality," laughs Julien,
a native of Williamstown, Ontario.

"She's not afraid of contact," says Lombardo. "She relishes the physical game. She's a hundred miles an hour, all over the field."

"I would hate to mark her," says Julien's teammate, midfielder Morven Ross. "She's like a gadfly. She just annoys you. She's everywhere. You think you have time, and you don't."

It's a style that has worked for Julien. Last fall she was the CAA Player of the Year and a third-team All-American, after setting school records for goals (16) and points (35) by a junior.

"Next thing you know she's on a flight to Los Angeles for the Canadian National Team, for a training camp," says Lombardo. "And she's starting a few games later for them."

Last March, Julien started Canada's first four matches in the eight-team Cyprus Cup, before missing the tournament final against England because of injury.

"I learned how to be more composed in fast, intense situations and stuff like that," says Julien of her experience with the national team. "And I can come back, and I know I can play at this level."

Now back in Harrisonburg for her senior season, Julien's confidence is contagious.

"It rubs off a lot," comments junior goalkeeper Diane Wszalek. "Like, when you see your teammate working hard, it's hard for you to just slack off."

"And all of a sudden they start looking around and going, 'Wow. We're not that far off from that either,'" says Lombardo.

And her JMU teammates also say Julien seems even more determined this fall.

"It's her goal now. Not just college soccer," Ross says. "She wants to continue with it as a career."

"She wants to see what she can do at the next level, whether it's a pro league, or the national team," says Lombardo. "She's somebody that wants this to be part of her legacy."