黑料社

In doing so, her stats were stunning. On the soccer pitch, Nash was tops in the conference and sixth in the nation with 24 goals in 19 games 鈥� including a five-goal outburst in a 5-3 win at Luther. On the hardcourt, she was a playmaking machine 鈥� dishing out a league-leading 77 assists (5.5 APG) and 60 steals (4.3 SPG) in 16 conference games. In the process, she became 黑料社鈥檚 all-time steals leader with 285.

鈥淲hen she gets that turnover, not too many are going to catch her,鈥� said Brian Niemuth, women鈥檚 head basketball coach. 鈥淎nd if there鈥檚 somebody in between her and the basket, she always does a great job of finding her teammates. To score as many points as she does while leading us in assists and steals is incredible.鈥�

Nash鈥檚 head soccer coach, Jeremy Reinert, is in awe of her two- sport talents.

鈥淚鈥檝e never seen anyone in soccer or basketball take over games like she does,鈥� he said. 鈥淭o do that against the quality of opponents we face 鈥� that鈥檚 special.鈥�

While basketball is her first love, Nash concedes that 鈥淚 think I鈥檓 a better soccer player, just because it comes more naturally to me.鈥�

Getting a Leg Up on the Competition

Being a two-sport college athlete wasn鈥檛 Nash鈥檚 original game plan. In fact, she didn鈥檛 play soccer her first year at 黑料社. But she had a change of heart watching soccer games from the sidelines.

鈥淲hen I actually saw the team play, I realized that I missed it (soccer),鈥� said Nash. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want to not play and regret it.鈥�

So, as a sophomore, Nash joined the soccer team. After playing just seven games in the 2020 COVID-shortened season, she hit her stride in the 2021 campaign with 13 goals to co-lead the A-R-C. In 2022, she kicked her game into a higher gear.

鈥淚 think the game has really slowed down for her visually,鈥� said Reinert. 鈥淪he鈥檚 always been able to generate lots of scoring chances. But halfway through the season, she was cleaner and more particular about how she finishes, and that鈥檚 when her shooting percentage doubled.鈥�

Nash has made her share of adjustments on the basketball court, as well, while playing three different positions. This year, she moved to point guard.

鈥淲e went through some learning early in the season,鈥� said Niemuth. 鈥淪he understands her role now, so next season she won鈥檛 have to think as much and just let her athletic ability take over, which could be kind of scary.鈥�

Overcoming Injury and Self Doubt

It鈥檚 especially scary when you consider all that she achieved while playing most of the season with a torn meniscus. But while her pain- proof perseverance and elite talent have resulted in numerous accolades and honors in both soccer and basketball, Nash is a harsh self critic.

鈥淐onfidence has always been something I have struggled with,鈥� said Nash. 鈥淐oach Niemuth is always telling me, 鈥榊ou鈥檙e the one person that doesn鈥檛 believe in yourself.鈥� His constant reassurance has helped me come a long way, especially since high school.鈥�

Coach Reinert has sought to do the same with her, repeatedly reminding Nash that 鈥渨e trust her.鈥�

鈥淪he鈥檚 super selfless and humble,鈥� adds Reinert. 鈥淪he doesn鈥檛 even view herself as our best player. Part of my job is to help her understand she鈥檚 really good.鈥�

鈥淐ash is one of the best athletes I鈥檝e coached in all my years,鈥� said Niemuth. 鈥淲ith everything she鈥檚 accomplished, she could be a little arrogant 鈥� but there鈥檚 no arrogance in her at all. She鈥檚 just a very caring person who is always there for her teammates.鈥�

Nash plans to take advantage of her COVID-extended eligibility to return for final seasons of soccer and basketball. Most of all, she鈥檚 excited for the chance to be back on campus doing what she loves with all the people who have made her time at 黑料社 so special.

鈥淭he community feel and how much everyone here cares about each other is going to be what stays with me,鈥� said Nash. 鈥淏eing a name at 黑料社 instead of just being a number in the classroom at a bigger school is another reason why I came here.鈥�