Armstrong hopes to go out a winner again

CEDAR RAPIDS - It's not always easy being the star.Yeah, you get all the accolades, the newspaper and television interviews. You come to a fun agreement with your coach to wear her engagement ring around for a few minutes after you score three or more goals in a game.But you also get the opposition's best shot, sometimes literally. Kayla Armstrong knows."I definitely can get feisty (about that)," the Cedar Rapids Xavier senior striker said. "I don't think you want to get too physical with me or I might go a little crazy."She went a little crazy just once, actually. It was her sophomore year in the quarterfinals of the state tournament.Xavier and Independence-East Buchanan were in the second half of their Class 2A quarterfinal when you looked up and noticed Armstrong on the ground engaged with an opponent. She earned a red card ejection for losing her temper and didn't get to play in the Saints' semifinal game."She does not let anyone push her around," said Cedar Rapids Xavier Coach Bailey Dorrington, whose club begin its quest for an amazing eighth straight state championship Thursday afternoon at 3 against ADM-Van Meter. "Part of that is just her attitude. She does not like that. You can see that if you talk to her. But she's been pushed around a lot. Growing up as a freshman and a sophomore, kids are guarding her as soon as she touches the ball. They're trying to take her out. She's used to that. She knows how to handle it now."And she knows how to score tons of goals despite everyone trying to stop her from doing so. Armstrong had 39 of them in 17 games for Xavier (16-1), following up 34-goal seasons as a sophomore and freshman.Throw as many defenders as you want at her. It doesn't matter."All of my teammates and coaches talk to me sometimes about not getting into my own head about that because I know how I can be sometimes," she said. "But it's like you said before, if you incorporate fun into it and not take it too seriously, it's easier to go out and play the game.""It's a lot of pressure being Kayla Armstrong," said Dorrington, who was Armstrong before Armstrong was Armstrong, a top and targeted player for Xavier's 2006 and 2007 state title teams. "But she handles it really well. We know that teams are going to mark her, kids are going to mark her. The whole goal is to come out and stop Kayla. Then she goes out and scores four goals."Dorrington said it's Armstrong's pure physical gifts that have allowed her to excel in soccer and basketball. She'll play college soccer at Drake, Dorrington's alma mater."She's one of the most athletic girls I've seen in basketball and soccer," Dorrington said. "It's not necessarily that she's such a skilled basketball player or soccer player. She's just athletic and fast, and people can't keep up with her. She can stop and go instantly. She can jump, she can change speed on a dime, which is something that boys are known for."I would say she almost plays like a boy, with her ability to stop and go so quickly. She has a build that supports that (ability). She's got narrow hips and is just quicker like that. More like a boy would be built."Armstrong actually went to elementary school in the Linn-Mar district before deciding to attend Regis Middle School and then Xavier. She said she remembered watching top Saints players like Dorrington and Morgan Showalter growing up.Now she's one of them."Being a senior, you feel the pressure more. You feel like you need to be there for your team and stuff and step up and lead them," Armstrong said. "I think our senior class really cares a lot about each grade and cares about Xavier a lot. We take it to heart. It would mean probably the most if we could back it back this year."There are four years of memories built up here. It's weird to think about all the different groups that have been in and out. All the memories you've built up and all the opportunities that have arose because of Xavier and this field."