Properties vol 4 2016 dash

By Jayme Lamm | The Blonde Side

Jayme is a sports + travel + fitness writer based in Houston. She covers the human interest side of sports and athletes, travels to places near and far and is originally from Virginia. Her work has appeared in ESPN, CBS, Women’s Health Magazine, Elite Daily, Bleacher Report and many others and she recently co-wrote and published a children’s book with a former Houston Texan player and just completed her first memoir.

Check out her work at TheBlondeSide.com and follow her on social media @jaymelamm.

J

anine Beckie may not be a household name like a J.J. Watt, James Harden or Carli Lloyd just yet, but she’s certainly well on her way. And if you follow women’s soccer, she may already be there. Beckie is proof that hard work and determination pays off and gives us hope that female role models do still exist.

Beckie is a forward with the Houston Dash and was selected with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2016 NWSL College Draft. After winning a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games (Team Canada) where she finished with three goals and one assist, Janine Beckie continues to thrive and push the limits – even for herself. Beckie is a media and communications major at Texas Tech wrapping up her degree, and is the epitome of a role model for young children, which is hard to believe, at just age 22.

Recent bronze medal aside (NBD, right?), Beckie holds quite a few other accolades including winning the 2016 Algarve Cup with the Canadian National Team (its first Algarve Cup victory), being named three-time NSCAA All-America honoree and remaining the all-time leading scorer at Texas Tech University with 57 career goals.

Beckie was also named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year after scoring 14 goals and three assists as the Red Raiders won their first Big 12 title, and she remains a force to be reckoned with as part of the Houston Dash.

Beckie is a dual citizen of Canada and the United States and she loves her life playing soccer, living in Houston, and continuing to count her blessings. Though she’s exceling at her sport right now, it hasn’t always been all rainbows and butterflies for the Colorado native. Last year she was in the group for the World Cup (Canada) and was cut at the last minute. Rather than getting down on herself, she used it as motivation and look at her now. At the time her coaches told her, “this is not the end,” and boy were they right. Spoiler alert – when it comes to having success, Beckie says the secret is, “knowing that hard work is the only way to make it in this world.”

Here’s a look at our exclusive

Q&A with the

STAR SOCCER PLAYER:

Jayme Lamm: How long have you been playing soccer?

Janine Beckie: 18 years – since I was four.

JL: Where did you grow up and how long have you been in Houston?

JB: I grew up in Denver, Colorado and have lived in Houston for a little under a year now.

JL: Houston’s a fun place – describe the lifestyle, the people, the fans, etc.

JB: Houston is an electric, upbeat, exciting city. The people are friendly with a ton of

Texas (Houston) pride. There is always something going on in Houston and

people buy into the sports teams. Our fans are committed and loyal, and I love

how into soccer the fans in Houston are; they just love the game and love to see

it growing in their city.

JL: Come February, (Super Bowl LI), Houston will be on many people’s radars - what are the most

fascinating things about our city, in your mind?

JB: I think the Museum District is so unique - I love all the history there. The food in Houston allows

such a wide variety of tastes and flavors, one of my favorite places is Adair Kitchen by the

Galleria. I also really love Papa Charlie’s BBQ right by the stadium. I think it is great that Houston

has the Galleria, so many great places to shop there. There is some really unique artwork

by BBVA Compass Stadium on some buildings by Polk Street. Houston has something for

everyone and I don’t think that many places could say the same. The culture and energy in the

city is different than anywhere I’ve been, I love playing in Houston.

JL: If you could pick, who would play in this year’s Super Bowl, any guesses or hopes?

JB: Well, being from Denver I would have to say the Broncos, I love them! I think the Dallas Cowboys

vs. the Denver Broncos would be pretty epic.

JL: Women’s soccer is becoming bigger and bigger every single day and you’re an amazing role model

to young girls everywhere - what is one solid piece of advice you wish you knew growing up that

you would like to share?

JB: At the end of the day it all comes down to how hard you are willing to work to get what you want

and knowing that hard work is the only way to make it in this world.

JL: Do you have any mantras that you try to live by?

JB: “Giving anything less than your best is sacrificing the gift.”

“One beautiful thing about life that will always be true no matter what: It goes on.”

JL: In your eyes, what makes a good teammate?

JB: Always doing the right thing even when it is not the popular thing, investing in the people on your

team on a friendship level, understanding that your way is not always the best way. Be open to

the way others do things.

JL: One of the greatest things about Houston is that we have two international airports - if I gave you

two plane tickets anywhere in the world, where would you go and who would you take?

JB: Oh man that’s tough. I would go to Barcelona, Spain for an FC Barcelona game and I would

probably take my college roommate, Alli.

JL: What’s something about you that many would find interesting or may not know?

JB: I was born in Colorado but all my siblings and my parents are Canadian so I have dual citizenship

and play for the Canadian National Team.

JL: If you didn’t soccer for a living, your career path would probably be _____?

JB: Sports broadcaster – ESPN, FS1, TSN, I watch all of them.

Follow her on Twitter & Instagram: @JanineBeckie4