Bock (and her shins) rock-solid for Irish

It's ugly, it's scary, and it's gross.

But Brittany Bock loves it.

The huge, bloated bruise on her shin, which at its peak was roughly the size and shape of a softball cut in half, makes her look pretty tough.

So she took pictures and proudly e-mailed them home to mom and dad.

"The bruise, it just blew up, and now it's this huge bump that's just nasty," Bock said. "It's kind of funny because here I am proud of this disgusting-looking thing coming out of my shin. But it's like a battle scar. I've been showing everyone."

Now, Bock, a junior forward for the nationally ranked Notre Dame women's soccer team, has something else to show off.

The Naperville native earned one of the biggest awards of her spectacular career Thursday when she was named the Big East co-offensive player of the year at the conference's banquet in West Virginia.

The Irish are there to participate in this weekend's Big East tournament, a prelude to what really matters for one of the nation's most elite programs: the NCAA Tournament.

Bock, who topped the Big East with 10 goals in conference play, led Notre Dame to the NCAA title game last year -- the Irish fell 2-1 to perennial power North Carolina -- and is determined to help make a return trip a reality.

"All the awards are great and it's really nice to get that recognition," said Bock, who has had her fair share of both. (Last month, she was named the national player of the week for the second time -- and in back-to-back weeks.)

"But in the end, I would give all of (the awards) back to win a national championship. We got to the quarters my freshman year and the finals last year. To come so close like that, it's hard. I can't come that close and not win it.

"Winning the title is my top goal right now."

First, there's the matter of that shin, which got walloped nearly two weeks ago in the regular-season finale against Rutgers. Bock was chasing down the ball and met up with the Rutgers goalie, who was teeing off to clear the ball. The goalie's foot went right into Bock's shin.

Her flimsy shin guard couldn't offer nearly enough protection.

Bock sat out Sunday's Big East tournament quarterfinal against Rutgers but was hoping to play in Friday's semifinal against Georgetown.

"I hated (sitting out)," Bock said. "I don't like not playing."

Not that it happens all that often, mind you. Practically never, as a matter of fact.

Bock might as well have a soccer ball tethered to her leg.

She kept a hectic schedule while in high school at Neuqua Valley. She played for various club teams, including an all-boys team that was ranked nationally.

And since her sophomore year in high school, she's been in the Olympic Developmental Pool, which means she's on the fast track to someday being considered for the women's senior national team.

In fact, womensworldfootball.com ranked her the top under-19 women's soccer player in the world in 2005. And in 2006, she spent much of the year traveling with the Under-20 U.S. national team that played in the World Championship in Russia.

"I've been all over the world because of soccer," Bock said. "It's always been my goal to get on the (senior) national team and play in the Olympics. Each year, I get closer and closer."

Bock says that she would love to make a run for a spot on the 2008 Olympic team but has her sights more realistically set on the 2012 team. And that means more and more soccer, and more and more traveling in the "off" season.

"I never get to go home," said Bock, who misses her parents, Brian and Kelly, and soccer-playing sister Jenny, a standout at Eastern Illinois. "Last summer, I took a bit of a break and didn't even play (with the national teams). But I stayed back at Notre Dame just to kind of work on my game and take some classes.

"We had fall break a few weeks ago and I went home for the first time in months. But I was home for just one day."

Bock spent the day watching movies with her family.

She also likes to relax by listening to music. Other than that, Bock, who would like to get into sports management, is always doing something sports-related.

"I get really excited about sports, I love them," Bock said. "When I do have free time, I'll go out and shoot hoops or toss a football around. I couldn't imagine not doing stuff like that. I'm just obsessed with sports.

"That's why I want to play soccer for as long as I can. I'm hoping for another 10 years."

Those poor shins.

ND soccer bits: Brittany Bock shared the Big East offensive player of the year award with West Virginia senior forward Ashley Banks. … Notre Dame junior left back Elise Weber of Elk Grove was named third team all-Big East. … After starting out 3-4-1, 10th-ranked Notre Dame got on track and won 11 straight to move to 14-4-1. It's the longest active streak in the nation.