By Tyler Freire

Ever since Kristina Maksuti was a little girl, she has had a soccer ball by her feet, and a great support system around her.

Her mother Maureen played a major role in getting Kristina ready for the pressure that comes from being a college athlete. Maureen was a swimmer at Ohio University, and Maksuti’s father Marjan, a former professional soccer player overseas, made sure that his daughter learned the game the correct way. “He laid the foundation for our soccer careers” Maksuti said. “Oftentimes, trainings were a family event, with our brothers most times helping us out by being our goalie or helping with our workouts.” Maksuti has two brothers, Anton and Kristjan, and a twin sister Marjana.

This great support system would be vital as Maksuti made her way to Fordham University on a full scholarship to play soccer. During her freshman year, she was named to the Atlantic 10 All­ Rookie Team and started 16 of 17 games at forward. She led the Rams with nine goals and 23 points, while tying for the team­lead in assists with five. She had four game­-winning goals and began her career with a two­-goal performance at Seton Hall, becoming the first Fordham freshman to have multiple goals in her first career game. In her sophomore year she progressed, starting all 19 games and leading the Rams in scoring with seven goals and three assists for 17 points.

But adversity came in her junior year, as she had to undergo surgery on both legs due to pressure buildup from internal bleeding or tissue swelling. This is also known as Compartment Syndrome, a very rare condition with fewer than 20,000 cases a year. Maksuti not only had to deal with this serious injury, but she also tore her ACL the following spring in a game against Fairfield, causing her to miss her senior season as well. If that was not enough, during her recovery for her ACL, she tore her meniscus in the process, which required another six months of therapy.

“It was gruesome and painful,” she said referring to the recovery process. “The crucial part was to stay positive through the experience. It was a huge mental hurdle.” Maksuti continued to refer to her family and just how important they were to her recovery process. “They were amazing,” Maksuti said. “They helped me with everything. It took the entire family.” She recounted multiple occasions when her brothers would bring her glasses of water and food when she could not walk and help her get to doctor’s appointments and physical therapy.

Maksuti’s twin Marjana transferred to Fordham to pursue a master’s degree, and she was right along Kristina’s side during the tough recovery. “Having my twin here was incredible,” Maksuti stated. “She was my number one supporter.”

It was not just Maksuti’s family that had her back. Her teammates, coaches and training staff were all essential during her recovery process. “This is the best group I ever played with” Kristina said. “We’re a family.”

Head coach Jessica Clinton had nothing but nice things to say about her senior captain. “Everyone on the team rallied around her, they played for her,” Clinton specified. “Not every player can do what she did; she was the heart and soul of the team.”

After a grueling recovery process of about two years and two surgeries, Maksuti found her way back to the field as a fifth-year senior. She remebers how she felt during her last game of the season. “I spent a lot of time preparing; I thought I would never see the light at the end of the tunnel. I wanted to show what I can do on the field, I wanted to enjoy myself. I didn’t just want to play, I wanted to play very well and be an impact player.”

And that is just what she did. As the season began, the Rams proved to be on a mission. Fordham finished an impressive season at 13­7­-2 overall, with a 6­3­1 mark in the A-10. The Rams earned the fifth seed at the Atlantic 10 Championship, after being picked to finish 11th in the coaches’ preseason poll. The Rams defeated VCU in the quarterfinals and advanced past George Mason on a penalty kick shootout in the semifinals to reach their third ­ever A-10 title game their first appearance since 2007.

Unfortunately, the Rams fell just short, losing to Duquesne 2­0 in the A­10 Championship game.

Maksuti finished second on the team in scoring with seven goals and three assists for 17 points, and continued to show her clutch gene, scoring five game­-winning goals. Maksuti had twelve game winning goals through her career with a total of 23 goals.

Maksuti went on to earn Second Team All­-Atlantic 10 honors, and was the quintessential leader of this team. “To not play for two years then make all conference was a huge accomplishment” head coach Jessica Clinton stated. “Her mentality was to be a great leader on and off the field at all times. Having that strong leadership quality on our team from our captain was instrumental to the team’s success. Tina and all the seniors have made a major impact on this program.”

Now at the end of the season and her college career, Maksuti says the moment feels bitter sweet.

She still keeps in touch with all her teammates and they hang out regularly. “I had some great memories with my girls, a lot of team bonding,” she said. “It was an amazing time with a great group of people.” Nowadays, Maksuti says she is focusing on life after college athletics, and is keeping all her options open.

She just received a Bachelor’s degree in Communications & Media Studies with a minor in Anthropology this past spring, but says she still has hopes of playing professionally. “I’m still the little girl who loves soccer,” she said.