By Julian Markese
Sports Editor
& Lily Rand
Photo Editor
An Olympic gold medal, a bronze medal and two World Cup Championship trophies: this is just some of the hardware that belongs to retired U.S. National Team and current Chicago Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.
Naeher, a Bridgeport native, made a stop at the university to speak about her career. It was the first leg of a homecoming trip in which Naeher would be honored by the national team for her accomplishments.
“We had a countdown going,” goalkeeper Abby Aughe, a senior, said.
Her appearance at the university was especially exciting for the members of the women’s soccer team.
The team had a chance to ask Naeher questions before the ticketed event.
She fielded technical questions, gave personal anecdotes and even remembered specifics from games that occurred years ago.
She also had the chance to give advice.
“Never stop learning. There’s always ways to better yourself and continue to grow,” Naeher said. “I love learning new things every day.”
Naeher grew up playing alongside her twin sister, Amanda Naeher.
She made her way through the highest levels of youth soccer, even spending some years training on the university’s campus, before playing at The Pennsylvania State University.
Naeher went pro in 2010, but resources backing women’s soccer still lagged behind the men’s game. She talked about the lack of resources available to her and her professional teammates at the time.
“We were getting taped leaning onto rocks on the side of the field,” Naeher said. “We didn’t even have training tables.”
Naeher and her national team teammates were vital in bringing women’s soccer closer to its rightful place alongside the men’s game. They fought for equal pay and won.
The women’s national team has inspired countless girls across the world.
“There is still a ways to go,” Naeher said, “but the women’s game has come so far.”
With friends, teammates and family in attendance, Naeher talked about finding her voice as a young goalkeeper.
She described her first practice with the senior national team as “awe-inspiring.” Naeher is the only goalie in World Cup history to score, take and make a penalty in a penalty shootout. She is the all-time leader in starts, minutes and saves in the National Women’s Soccer League.
Naeher is humble, but she is a role model.
“She’s an inspiration,” Aughe said. “I grew up watching her as a kid. I’m almost 23, now.”
Naeher was mostly dismissive of her own personal accomplishments. She credited her teammates and her coaches.
Her advice to the university’s athletes encompassed more than just athletics.
“The friendships and memories are even more important than what you do on the field,” Naeher said. “People remember you for who you are and how you treated them, not for what you did on the field.”
Naeher insisted that her legacy is centered around her character rather than her play.
“I always remind myself to stay true to my roots and who I am,” Naeher said. “I wanted to be someone people could rely on, both on and off the field.”
