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35 H ailey Rydberg knew there was an opportunity when she returned to the University of Iowa soccer team in the spring of 2019. e Hawkeyes were coming off a banner season where they tied a school record with 15 victories and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history. Rydberg's role was about to change following the graduation of a 13-player senior class. "Once they le, I realized I was prepared for this and looking up to them, I knew I could have a bigger role," said Rydberg, a junior midfielder from St. Charles, Illinois. "I would ask myself, 'What would they do? What did they teach me?' "With the 13 seniors gone, it was important for me and some of the younger players to step into that role." From the moment Rydberg returned to campus following winter break, head coach Dave DiIanni saw a focused and determined player. "She came back and was our best player from the beginning during the spring," said DiIanni. "She has improved every semester she has been in our program. She has gotten stronger, her mentality and her tactical awareness are better and she has gotten more skilled." Rydberg joined the Iowa program in 2018 as a highly-sought recruit from St. Charles North High School. She was the top player in Illinois following a senior season where she earned Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year and TopDrawerSoccer Spring First-Team All-America honors. "She came from a smaller program that won a lot," said DiIanni. "ey won a lot of games and championships. When you're a winner, that's not by mistake. It was important to get her here because she was the leader of the team, and I felt the possibilities for her were endless." Rydberg saw the field as a freshman, playing in 18 games with 13 starts. She scored two goals, including the game-winner against Michigan State, and finished with four points. In 2019, Rydberg played in all 21 games with 11 starts and finished with one goal and one assist in 779 minutes. "It was a huge change from high school to college soccer, mentally and physically," said Rydberg. "I could have done better my first two years, but that's coming from a personal standpoint where I am harder on myself. "I was small when I came in and got pushed around a little bit. It was challenging mentally, but it was the experience to get me where I am." Rydberg played behind four-year starters in Natalie Winters and Isabella Blackman during her first two seasons. Winters was a four-time All-Big Ten selection. "Natalie was an amazing player and I was lucky to have her and Bella to mentor me," said Rydberg. "It was a great experience being able to play with and learn from them." With the 2020 fall season postponed to the spring because of the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic, Rydberg is ready to be a leader on and off the field for the Hawkeyes.