The Jewish Link of Bergen County and Gotham Burger would like to award Yeshiva University’s goalie Elana Kook Sportstar of the week. Last week the NCAA released its latest Division III women’s soccer statistics and Kook is the nation’s leader in overall saves. With 104 saves, the 21-year-old senior has made more saves than any other goalkeeper in NCAA Division III so far this season.

Elana, yasher koach on the beginning of a terrific season. Who are some of your role models?

My parents–My father has always been my number one fan and he attends most games. Rain or shine, hot or cold, or alone in the stands, I know to expect him to stand at the start of each half cheering my name and rooting for the Lady Macs. My mother, although she is very nervous for the well-being of my fingers (and warns me not to use my hands… despite the fact that I’m a goalie), is also super supportive.

I am sure playing goalie for a top NCAA team is exhausting. What is your special pregame meal?

I have learned the hard way that for games, considering the amount of diving and falling on the ground I do, pregame meals should not exist. I make sure to eat a lot of protein at the beginning of the day, and it is critical to stay hydrated.

If you had to pick one, what would be your favorite sports memory?

To be honest, there is a lot of pressure being in the goal during the game. I find myself sometimes just wishing the clock ticked faster. If I make a “good save” then I have to quickly snap out of it because chances are that I have to make another save pretty quickly after that moment. The game is entirely mental. The best memories are post-game when I can take a deep breath and reflect on how each game went.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not protecting the goal for the Yeshiva University soccer team?

Between school games three days a week and practice every night for two hours (we travel to either FDU or Yonkers to practice), it’s hard to have time to do anything else during the season! However, this year I am the Editor-in-Chief of The Yeshiva University Observer, which so far, has been a really amazing experience.

What is the best thing about being a sportstar?

This one is a no-brainer: The friends I have made on the team. We are each other’s number one support system and we are best friends on and off the field. For the few months of season, we are more than friends; we are a tight-knit family.