Not Done Yet: Four Seniors to Return for Fifth Year
4/2/2021 11:31:00 AM | Women's Soccer
By: Jared Rigdon
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - When the Big Ten made the decision to cancel fall sports this past season, IU women's soccer defender Allison Jorden was heartbroken.
It was set to be her senior season in a program in its second year under head coach Erwin van Bennekom. Inside the locker room, a culture was brewing.
But Jorden and the rest of the program accepted that it was in the best interest and health for everyone to take the fall off. Instead, it gave them an opportunity to improve.
When the Big Ten announced all fall sports would resume in the spring, the fall became an extra period of training. In an unusually long offseason, it gave a chance for new players to adjust to the system and veterans a chance to get back into the swing of things.
Most of all, it gave the chance to seniors Jorden, forward Melanie Forbes, goalie Bethany Kopel and defender Hanna Németh to continue the progress they had begun.
"That was kind of a blessing in disguise, and then kind of helped propel us into some of the success that we've had so far this season," Jorden said.
A competitive spring season presented a unique challenge to the women's soccer program. Not only would they go roughly 15 months without playing a game but they would have to come back and play a conference only schedule.
IU had nearly two months of preseason before the spring season began. For them, it was a great chance to get readjusted to playing while getting everyone worked into the team.
"Our team got to really prepare together and focus on all the games that were coming up. And well as soon as we got started all of our hunger that just was within us waiting for games to happen just came out," Németh said.
Since coming to IU, each of the four seniors has had to overcome a number of challenges. There's been the adjustment of coming to a new country, working through injuries and balancing life as a student-athlete.
For Jorden, this was just another challenge they had to face together.
"There's a challenge on every single corner," Jorden said. "And if you get through it, then you've grown as a person. And so, I think I've grown in a lot of different capacities and just become a better person, a better friend, better teammate and have been able to like grow self-confidence, all those things just because of all the challenges that you have to face every day as a student athlete."
IU has begun to reach new heights this season. Its six conference wins going into Saturday night's regular season finale ties a program high.
A win against arch-rival Purdue in West Lafayette would break a program record for regular season wins.
With an extra year of eligibility due to COVID, Jorden, Kopel, Németh and Forbes will all be returning next season to finish what they started when van Bennekom took over the reins of the program.
It also means one more year of representing the Indiana name across the chest.
"I'd say it's a huge honor because the greatest thing about Indiana is the "24 Sports, 1 Team" motto," Forbes said. "I just think the culture at Indiana in general is one of inclusion. And to be able to represent that on the field means that we're not just representing ourselves and our teammates, we're representing so much more than us."
Having these four seniors back will be crucial to van Bennekom as he continues his turnaround of the program. Kopel is on the verge of breaking records in net as she is tied for the most conference victories in program history and ranks second in career victories with 26. In addition, Kopel holds Indiana's program record for most career shutouts with 21 and holds the record for most in a season with nine. Lastly, she has totaled 275 saves on her career while in goal for the Hoosiers.
Also, an important anchor on this year's backline is Németh, who has earned nine starts this season for the Hoosiers and tallied 58 career starts. She scored her first career goal this season against Penn State.
Meanwhile, Forbes has become one of IU's most lethal attackers – she has earned eight starts and found the net three times this season. Forbes led the Hoosiers to a victory in overtime against Rutgers for their first ever win against the Scarlet Knights. She also scored her first brace in a shutout victory against Iowa on February 28, 2021.
Jorden had 64 starts and four goals on her career before an injury earlier this season.
On top of that, they've become high-character players to the young team around them.
"They've been a huge part in changing this program around," van Bennekom said. "They bought in right away and embraced the culture."
While this season isn't finished yet, it's hard not to think of the potential success IU could have next season. The Hoosiers are on the edge of unprecedented success with their women's soccer program.
And these four seniors are going to help it get there.
"I think our team has been on the rise and every semester we're just doing better and better," Németh said. "And I firmly believe that next year is going to be our best year."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - When the Big Ten made the decision to cancel fall sports this past season, IU women's soccer defender Allison Jorden was heartbroken.
It was set to be her senior season in a program in its second year under head coach Erwin van Bennekom. Inside the locker room, a culture was brewing.
But Jorden and the rest of the program accepted that it was in the best interest and health for everyone to take the fall off. Instead, it gave them an opportunity to improve.
When the Big Ten announced all fall sports would resume in the spring, the fall became an extra period of training. In an unusually long offseason, it gave a chance for new players to adjust to the system and veterans a chance to get back into the swing of things.
Most of all, it gave the chance to seniors Jorden, forward Melanie Forbes, goalie Bethany Kopel and defender Hanna Németh to continue the progress they had begun.
"That was kind of a blessing in disguise, and then kind of helped propel us into some of the success that we've had so far this season," Jorden said.
A competitive spring season presented a unique challenge to the women's soccer program. Not only would they go roughly 15 months without playing a game but they would have to come back and play a conference only schedule.
IU had nearly two months of preseason before the spring season began. For them, it was a great chance to get readjusted to playing while getting everyone worked into the team.
"Our team got to really prepare together and focus on all the games that were coming up. And well as soon as we got started all of our hunger that just was within us waiting for games to happen just came out," Németh said.
Since coming to IU, each of the four seniors has had to overcome a number of challenges. There's been the adjustment of coming to a new country, working through injuries and balancing life as a student-athlete.
For Jorden, this was just another challenge they had to face together.
"There's a challenge on every single corner," Jorden said. "And if you get through it, then you've grown as a person. And so, I think I've grown in a lot of different capacities and just become a better person, a better friend, better teammate and have been able to like grow self-confidence, all those things just because of all the challenges that you have to face every day as a student athlete."
IU has begun to reach new heights this season. Its six conference wins going into Saturday night's regular season finale ties a program high.
A win against arch-rival Purdue in West Lafayette would break a program record for regular season wins.
With an extra year of eligibility due to COVID, Jorden, Kopel, Németh and Forbes will all be returning next season to finish what they started when van Bennekom took over the reins of the program.
It also means one more year of representing the Indiana name across the chest.
"I'd say it's a huge honor because the greatest thing about Indiana is the "24 Sports, 1 Team" motto," Forbes said. "I just think the culture at Indiana in general is one of inclusion. And to be able to represent that on the field means that we're not just representing ourselves and our teammates, we're representing so much more than us."
Having these four seniors back will be crucial to van Bennekom as he continues his turnaround of the program. Kopel is on the verge of breaking records in net as she is tied for the most conference victories in program history and ranks second in career victories with 26. In addition, Kopel holds Indiana's program record for most career shutouts with 21 and holds the record for most in a season with nine. Lastly, she has totaled 275 saves on her career while in goal for the Hoosiers.
Also, an important anchor on this year's backline is Németh, who has earned nine starts this season for the Hoosiers and tallied 58 career starts. She scored her first career goal this season against Penn State.
Meanwhile, Forbes has become one of IU's most lethal attackers – she has earned eight starts and found the net three times this season. Forbes led the Hoosiers to a victory in overtime against Rutgers for their first ever win against the Scarlet Knights. She also scored her first brace in a shutout victory against Iowa on February 28, 2021.
Jorden had 64 starts and four goals on her career before an injury earlier this season.
On top of that, they've become high-character players to the young team around them.
"They've been a huge part in changing this program around," van Bennekom said. "They bought in right away and embraced the culture."
While this season isn't finished yet, it's hard not to think of the potential success IU could have next season. The Hoosiers are on the edge of unprecedented success with their women's soccer program.
And these four seniors are going to help it get there.
"I think our team has been on the rise and every semester we're just doing better and better," Németh said. "And I firmly believe that next year is going to be our best year."
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
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