Liz Hansen’s Mental Health Journey Leads Her to Perfect Home, Record-Setting Career

Senior Liz Hansen set a record by participating in 6,479 minutes during her occupation as a defender on the Viking women’s soccer group. She eclipsed Kristen Moyer’s record of 6,393, set in 2017, by 84 minutes, virtually an entire match.
    
But, she in all probability was in a situation to accomplish that only due to the fact her life dropped concentration her junior year in higher university.
    
A a few-yr countrywide honor culture member, she heard from the likes of Harvard, Oregon Condition, Pepperdine, and Seattle University on the power of her singularly centered existence on the pitch and in the classroom. She tackled almost everything head-on with comprehensive concentration.
    
And, that is what took place her junior year when she received concerned with a quite social group at Century Substantial University in Hillsboro.
   
“I located myself putting soccer in the backseat, entirely concentrating on my social lifestyle,” Hansen recalled. She give up heading to soccer apply. As for academics…well, “I was far more targeted on the pals I had or likely out.” It was odd, she said, because “I was always the girl who plays soccer all the time. So, as shortly as I acquired a style of social everyday living, I preferred that all the time.”
     
Her psychological well being and self-impression took a huge strike during that period of time.
     
Throughout her senior year, her soccer club mentor took her apart and explained she was blowing an option to engage in faculty soccer, a journey that begun at the age of four. By then, even though, she’d missing touch with the faculties who’d watched her all through her to start with two or 3 a long time of high school. In truth, she ended up with no features.
     
“I missing my college or university curiosity/presents and genuinely did not believe that I was likely to perform faculty soccer,” she stated.
      
Her club coach Monthly bill Irwin knew then PSU Head Coach Laura Schott, who was in her last year major the Viking program. “Invoice arrived at out to PSU and vouched for me. Laura gave me the offer you to play for her devoid of even seeing my enjoy. I will eternally be grateful for Monthly bill Irwin.” She also credits her grandfather Bob Hansen for getting “one particular of the most important supporters in my everyday living. He has given me the commitment to keep likely.”
     
Today’s head mentor Katie Burton hadn’t identified about Hansen when she arrived to get above the Vikings Hansen’s freshman calendar year.
     
The previous Sacramento Point out head soccer mentor claimed her principal recruiting area experienced been northern and southern California. “It took some time to get to know the regional golf equipment and gamers. Nonetheless, experienced I observed Liz enjoy in club, she would have stood out to me as a participant who could operate effectively in my design of participate in. She was athletic, exceptionally coachable, and a good teammate. She was powerful, fast, and experienced very good footwork which is a will have to in this convention.”
      
Hansen was a “freshly on-her-personal grownup, trying to determine out her way and get up to speed with the increased stage of participate in,” said Burton. Hansen agreed that she was however reeling emotionally as a freshman. But, with the assistance of a new boyfriend, friends, and her spouse and children “I am doing a ton far better now.” She has graduated (cum laude with a 3.74 cumulative GPA) with a diploma in small business marketing and minimal in psychology even though managing an on-campus donut store, studying, and actively playing soccer. 
     
And, soccer is when a lot more a central portion of her lifestyle. She options to put herself into the NWSL draft. If that isn’t going to get the job done out, she’d “like to enjoy anywhere that would give me the option” …maybe France…because “soccer about there is entirely various than in the US.” About there, soccer is everything,” she explained.
     
Hansen arrives from an athletic spouse and children. Her mother, Martha, played soccer increasing up. Dad, Aaron, was a 5. tennis participant (and she lettered in tennis as a high university freshman). Her brothers Chris and Mike performed soccer and tennis. “Sports are a huge matter in my family,” she said.
   
She commenced enjoying soccer at age 4 and remembers her to start with soccer workforce was “Environmentally friendly Grass.”
    
Soccer was constantly her to start with priority expanding up and she became severe about it when she understood how passionate she was about the activity and that she appeared to be good at it. “I experienced a ton of vitality expanding up, so soccer was a wonderful outlet for me.”
     
Hansen describes herself as a “aggressive individual” and stated soccer “is the most enjoyment sport to contend with your mates. I love the soccer society. I also relished soccer simply because it was my escape from the exterior world. I’ve also worked entire time all through my university occupation and follow gave me an chance to shut other issues out for a next.”
     
Even though she admits some regret at getting misplaced the prospect to analyze at a place like Harvard, she’s content with the way factors turned out.
   
“I basically went all the way to Massachusetts to go to an ID camp at Harvard. It was this kind of a amazing expertise. I took a possibility with PSU due to the fact I had no other selections. But, really, let me explain to you, it was the most great decision. I have enjoyed my time here really a lot. I grew near with my group and also satisfied my boyfriend of three years below. Portland is these types of a interesting put to are living! There was always stuff for us to do or new locations for experience (though she needs she’d experienced a lot more time to explore),” claimed Hansen.
    
Aside from acquiring as a particular person, Burton explained Hansen also designed nicely in soccer. She earned an All-Large Sky honorable point out nod in 2017 and Academic All-Large Sky honors the last 3 several years.
    
“Liz has designed leaps and bounds in her progress about her five years listed here. She is now the leader, not only in our backline but to the overall staff. With 50 percent her course not returning for their more 12 months, Liz experienced to action up as a vocal leader for the team this tumble. She elevated the criteria and anticipations which has introduced younger gamers alongside this calendar year,” stated Burton, who explained Hansen as “an all-close to excellent human. She places others’ needs and the team’s demands initial. She has acquired into the process for 5 several years, which has been the glue that saved our development going.”
    
Hansen, she claimed, “is a crack up. She’s that teammate who constantly retains things positive, keeps everybody on their toes with her humor.”
   
Her individual wobble has moved Hansen to be extra tuned in to the mental wellness requires of remaining an athlete. She’s an advocate for psychological well being in sports and in basic. “I like to think about myself a risk-free spot for people to arrive and enable every thing out. Absolutely everyone warrants to be listened to. Far more athletes than you assume battle with psychological wellbeing on a day-to-day foundation.”
   
“Over-all, I’m pretty delighted I manufactured the decision to come enjoy at this university. I’m grateful for the people I have achieved, reminiscences I have made, and lifestyle abilities I have figured out.”
     
And, she’s significantly happy to have regained focus in soccer and the issues in lifestyle that are truly vital.