Indiana University Athletics
Seniors Will Leave IU Having Grown Program
10/28/2015 12:24:00 PM | Women's Soccer
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Amy Berbary took over the reins of Indiana Women's Soccer in early 2013. The program needed new direction. In many ways, it needed to start over.
Earning the trust of the previous season's freshmen was crucial. The program was evolving. The rebuild would only happen as quickly as they allowed it. Berbary was asking a group of then-rising sophomores to buy into a coaching staff that hadn't recruited them and lay the foundation for the future of Indiana Women's Soccer.
Nearly three years later, those rising sophomore are seniors now. They'll play at Bill Armstrong Stadium for the final time in their careers tonight, graduating the last transitional group of Berbary's coaching tenure.
"Even though I didn't recruit these kids, they've become a huge part of my life," Berbary said. "They're responsible for this. They're the ones who trusted us and helped us do the things we wanted to do, and hopefully lay the framework for building this program into what we want it to be."
Those seniors—fifth-year senior Sarah Stone, Jessie Bujouves, Kailee Feinstein, Kayleigh Steigerwalt, Rachel Romero and Katie Greulich—will be recognized for their work tonight. As will Central Michigan transfer Emily Basten, who Berbary said made "more impact in the last nine months than she'd ever know" during her only Indiana season.
"These women put their hearts into this program," Berbary said. "They all have a different story to tell, and that's what I think makes them so unique and special."
Every graduating class has its own identity. This group's was defined by transition.
They experienced the high of a 2013 NCAA Tournament run in Berbary's first season, defeating DePaul 1-0 in the opening round before falling to North Carolina in the second round. They've played through the lows of injuries that riddled the 2015 team, never allowing the Hoosiers to play at full strength.
But through it all, they've helped build. They've helped establish the program, defining the team's culture and style of play for years to come.
"The past years especially haven't been what we wanted them to be," Bujouves said. "But we have been a part of the foundation of this new era of Indiana Women's Soccer. Without this group of girls, I don't think the next couple seasons that will be successful would be there without this building experience. So it was really difficult, but it was really important that we were here and did what we did."
Having that vision isn't easy, Romero said. In competition, the only thing that matters is wins and losses. It's often easier to find solace knowing the program is better off in reflection rather than in the midst of a season.
"Obviously, it's hard not seeing the results, but it feels good to know we've been a part of this program," Romero said. "We're really excited to see the future."
But before the future, there's one last game to play against rival Purdue.
The senior class has an opportunity to claim the Golden Boot tonight for the fourth consecutive season, becoming the first class to win the Boot each year of their playing careers.
Berbary keeps the Golden Boot on her desk. Anyone who walks into her office is reminded of it.
A win tonight wouldn't make up for all the frustrations of 2015, but it would help. It would give the Hoosier seniors one more thing to celebrate before watching their work to establish IU Women's Soccer as a national power continue as alumni.
"It would be the perfect ending," Feinstein said. "I think it would probably be my most favorite memory if we win it."
