Alabama Soccer in the Pros: Finding Success in Domestic and International Leagues
6/22/2016 8:17:00 PM | Soccer
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Five former Crimson Tide soccer players are currently representing the Alabama program as members of professional teams on rosters across the world. All graduates of the last six years, Justine Bernier (2009-11), Theresa Diederich (2010-14), Pia Rijsdijk (2012-14), Merel van Dongen (2012-14) and Maruschka Waldus (2014) have recently completed their 2015-16 seasons for their respective professional teams.
Since leaving the Capstone in 2014, current Dutch international player Merel van Dongen has shined in domestic and international competition. After Alabama soccer's 2014 season ended, van Dongen signed a professional contract with Amsterdam Football Club Ajax. In her second season with the club, the former Alabama standout was a major contributor to the side that were the runners-up of the Eredivisie Women and the Koninklijke Nederlandse Voetbalbond (KNVB) Cup. Van Dongen made 21 appearances, scored three goals and played a total of 1,811 minutes for a team that finished with a 17-2-5 record.
"My season at Ajax was one with mixed emotions," van Dongen said. "We had a record of 17-2-5, but weren't able to win the championship. That was a real heartbreaker. However, my season went really well. I played pretty much the entire season as a left center back and I also had some great experiences with the national team. We had games against Denmark, Japan, Canada and South Africa. I am excited for what is coming for our team next season. We will host the Euro 2017 in our home country. Great things are ahead!"
As well as making a name for herself in the domestic league of Holland, van Dongen also shined while representing the Dutch National Team. She has made 10 appearances for her home country and has scored one goal. Right now, the Netherlands are preparing for the Union of European Football Association Euro 2017 tournament that it is hosting.
Another Dutch star, Pia Rijsdijk (2011-14), recently finished her first season with the Hague soccer club, Ado Den Haag. Rijsdijk scored seven goals and played 1,625 minutes in her 22 appearances for the club, which finished fourth in the Eredivisie.
"We got off to a rough start at the beginning of the season," Rijsdijk said. "We had a lot of new players and that took some getting used to. During the second half of the season, we played much more as a team and had several positive outcomes. The highlight of the season definitely was beating Ajax in the final of the Dutch Cup and winning this prize. I will never forget that moment."
Rijsdijk's highlight of the season was getting an assist on the lone goal against van Dongen's Ajax side, which secured the KNVB Cup for Ado Den Haag. At Alabama, she was a two-time All-SEC second team member and garnered SEC All-Freshman Team honors in 2011. The Numansdorp, Netherlands, native finished her Alabama career with 190 shots total and 87 shots on goal, the second most in school history in both categories.
"When that long ball was given, all I wanted was to win that ball and keep possession," Rijsdijk said. "I won it and I just kind of instinctively wanted to go towards goal. Before I knew it I had left two Ajax players behind and saw that my teammate, Lineth Beerensteyn, was wide open and she had a great finish! There was so much excitement and adrenaline when we scored that goal!"
Alabama's all-time saves leader Justine Bernier (2009-11) recently completed her second season with Swedish side AIK Fotboll. Bernier ranks near the top of all Alabama goalkeeping records including saves (1st, 453), shutouts (1st, 21), saves-per-game (2nd, 6.38), save percentage (2nd, .822), wins (2nd, 29) and goals-against average (3rd, 1.37).
Former Alabama standout Theresa Diederich (2010-14) signed a professional contract with Jersey Sky Blue in Morristown, N.J., upon graduating from Alabama. During the 2015 season, Diederich made three appearances for the club and signed a new contract for the 2016 season. A three-year captain at Alabama, Diederich helped guide the Tide to a 10-7-3 record in 2014, reaching new career-highs in points (18), assists (6) and shots (55). She finished her time in Tuscaloosa ranked third all-time with 76 shots on goal, and finished in the all-time top 10 in shots (5th, 157), goals (7th, 23) and points (8th, 56).
Former Crimson Tide defender and midfielder Maruschka Waldus (2014) finished her 2015 season with Swedish side Mallbackens IF. Waldus made 12 appearances, scored one goal and played 1,065 minutes for the club. Since then, Waldus has signed with the German club, Turbine Potsdam, where she has already made seven appearances and played 441 minutes for the club.
Get all the latest information on the team by following AlabamaSoccer on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. General athletic news can also be found @UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and Alabama Athletics on Facebook.
Since leaving the Capstone in 2014, current Dutch international player Merel van Dongen has shined in domestic and international competition. After Alabama soccer's 2014 season ended, van Dongen signed a professional contract with Amsterdam Football Club Ajax. In her second season with the club, the former Alabama standout was a major contributor to the side that were the runners-up of the Eredivisie Women and the Koninklijke Nederlandse Voetbalbond (KNVB) Cup. Van Dongen made 21 appearances, scored three goals and played a total of 1,811 minutes for a team that finished with a 17-2-5 record.
"My season at Ajax was one with mixed emotions," van Dongen said. "We had a record of 17-2-5, but weren't able to win the championship. That was a real heartbreaker. However, my season went really well. I played pretty much the entire season as a left center back and I also had some great experiences with the national team. We had games against Denmark, Japan, Canada and South Africa. I am excited for what is coming for our team next season. We will host the Euro 2017 in our home country. Great things are ahead!"
As well as making a name for herself in the domestic league of Holland, van Dongen also shined while representing the Dutch National Team. She has made 10 appearances for her home country and has scored one goal. Right now, the Netherlands are preparing for the Union of European Football Association Euro 2017 tournament that it is hosting.
Another Dutch star, Pia Rijsdijk (2011-14), recently finished her first season with the Hague soccer club, Ado Den Haag. Rijsdijk scored seven goals and played 1,625 minutes in her 22 appearances for the club, which finished fourth in the Eredivisie.
"We got off to a rough start at the beginning of the season," Rijsdijk said. "We had a lot of new players and that took some getting used to. During the second half of the season, we played much more as a team and had several positive outcomes. The highlight of the season definitely was beating Ajax in the final of the Dutch Cup and winning this prize. I will never forget that moment."
Rijsdijk's highlight of the season was getting an assist on the lone goal against van Dongen's Ajax side, which secured the KNVB Cup for Ado Den Haag. At Alabama, she was a two-time All-SEC second team member and garnered SEC All-Freshman Team honors in 2011. The Numansdorp, Netherlands, native finished her Alabama career with 190 shots total and 87 shots on goal, the second most in school history in both categories.
"When that long ball was given, all I wanted was to win that ball and keep possession," Rijsdijk said. "I won it and I just kind of instinctively wanted to go towards goal. Before I knew it I had left two Ajax players behind and saw that my teammate, Lineth Beerensteyn, was wide open and she had a great finish! There was so much excitement and adrenaline when we scored that goal!"
Alabama's all-time saves leader Justine Bernier (2009-11) recently completed her second season with Swedish side AIK Fotboll. Bernier ranks near the top of all Alabama goalkeeping records including saves (1st, 453), shutouts (1st, 21), saves-per-game (2nd, 6.38), save percentage (2nd, .822), wins (2nd, 29) and goals-against average (3rd, 1.37).
Former Alabama standout Theresa Diederich (2010-14) signed a professional contract with Jersey Sky Blue in Morristown, N.J., upon graduating from Alabama. During the 2015 season, Diederich made three appearances for the club and signed a new contract for the 2016 season. A three-year captain at Alabama, Diederich helped guide the Tide to a 10-7-3 record in 2014, reaching new career-highs in points (18), assists (6) and shots (55). She finished her time in Tuscaloosa ranked third all-time with 76 shots on goal, and finished in the all-time top 10 in shots (5th, 157), goals (7th, 23) and points (8th, 56).
Former Crimson Tide defender and midfielder Maruschka Waldus (2014) finished her 2015 season with Swedish side Mallbackens IF. Waldus made 12 appearances, scored one goal and played 1,065 minutes for the club. Since then, Waldus has signed with the German club, Turbine Potsdam, where she has already made seven appearances and played 441 minutes for the club.
Get all the latest information on the team by following AlabamaSoccer on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. General athletic news can also be found @UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and Alabama Athletics on Facebook.
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