At their practice field at Bryan Park on Tuesday, VCU women’s soccer goalkeepers Lauren Hardison, Emily Niman, and Kali Van Covern completed strength drills in the rain. They weren’t just normal soccer players toughing it out in the rain. They’re the new freshman trio of goalkeepers for the Rams.
As the team buckles down for the last weekend of play before the CAA season begins next week, Hardison, Niman, and Van Covern all play a much bigger role in the success of the team than they did when they first arrived.
It was simple for the Rams last year. There was a senior in goal, Crissy Lloyd, who possessed the most important attribute a goalkeeper can have: consistency. In her place are three freshmen learning to adjust to college as well as a conference season where a championship is in sight.
Going into Thursday night’s game at American, the adaptation isn’t over yet, which goalkeepers coach and Richmond Kickers goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale recognizes.
“No matter what, the more experience you have the better you get,” Pascale said. He expected replacing Lloyd to be a bit of a process. But he also said that there isn’t much difference in talent between the senior that left and the freshmen that came in.
“Athletically, they’re on the same level as Chrissy,” he said.
But success is measured in wins and losses, and most of the time the intangibles learned through game-play is what separates the best from the good.
At the beginning of the season Pascale expected it to be a tight race for the starting position.
“Lauren, Emily, and Kali are all capable keepers,” he said. “So if one stood out above the rest, that’s great.”
All three trained extensively over the summer. Niman even played on a W-League team.
She also played well enough during training and the exhibition game to start the season opener against George Washington. Over the next few games she split time with Hardison in goal. She recorded a win, seven saves and five goals allowed, but she didn’t take advantage of the opportunity. By the fourth game of the season, against UNC-Charlotte, Hardison replaced her as starter. Since, Hardison has three wins, fourteen saves and three goals allowed.
Pascale recognizes the starter could change again at the drop of a hat. While Niman and Hardison continue to compete for the starting position, Van Covern is more of a project. Pascale notes that Van Covern’s work rate is as strenuous as any player on the team, all she needs is more experience.
The three freshmen all have individual traits that make them quality goalkeepers. Niman has a good eye for reading opposing offenses and players, and her demeanor inside the box is top notch. Van Covern has the tenacity of a prizefighter; she wants the toughest battles and the hardest challenges.
Hardison is the most athletic. “There are plays she can make because of her athleticism that the others just can’t,” Pascale said.
Niman, Hardison, and Van Covern have been dealing with their duel lives for almost two months now.
“The process has been a little bit tougher than we would’ve liked,” Pascal said. “Right now, they’re not playing up to their potential. But they’re still trying to grow.”