But that’s the exact phrase women’s soccer associate head coach Tammy Farnum used about sophomore forward Allyson Krause and her importance to this year’s team.

With only six upperclassmen on this year’s team, the Spartans realize the need to rely on the abundance of youth available to them, and Krause is a key member of the group.

“She’s really good with the ball, but I think a forward should be mad every time they don’t score, I think a forward should be more selfish,” Farnum said. “It’s OK when she’s in the final third (of the field), the team is on her back and to have freedom, to be dangerous and to understand that’s part of her role.”

In her first season at MSU last season, Krause emerged as a threat for the Spartans scoring four goals — the second most on the team.

She also added two assists to help earn herself a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman team.

This season, Krause already is leading the team with two goals, and has a team-high five points. She netted her goals in wins against Milwaukee and Dayton.

Head coach Tom Saxton said Krause’s offense is important to the young team, and it’s one of her most important skill aspects.

“She’s proven already in her young career that she’s capable of scoring big goals, and that’s something you can’t really teach,” Saxton said. “That’s something you gotta have in you. Other than being a good student athlete and good teammate, that’s her most important quality she’s got: goal scoring ability.”

Despite the praises from her coaches, Krause said it means a lot to hear, but the team comes first.

“It means a lot to me just because players will look to get (the ball) into me, but I couldn’t be able to do it without them,” Krause said. “We have to work together as a team in order to get it up to the attacking line, which creates attacking plays and scoring opportunities.”

Also with the recent injuries to junior goalkeeper Courtney Clem, junior forward/midfielder Lisa Vogel and junior forward Paige Wester, the coaches said the need for the younger players to step up is critical.

Farnum said Krause is a key because of her great field vision and her ball skills.

“Most importantly, her success has come most recently because she understands the ball at her feet when she’s attacking the goal, she can be an extremely dangerous force,” Farnum said. “Obviously getting those goals at opportune times has been crucial to our success so far.”