Photo: St. Bonaventure Athletics
BY: AIDAN SHINNERS, STAFF WRITER
International talent fills one third of St. Bonaventure University’s women’s soccer’s active roster.
Graduate student and first-year Bonnie Thea Juul found out about Bonaventure after winning the Northeast 10 Conference in her senior season at The College of Saint Rose.
Bonnies women’s soccer head coach Donny George reached out to Juul, who liked the coach and how he spoke about the team.
“I just really liked his personality and the whole setup around the team,” Juul said.
Prior to joining the Bonnies, Juul played for a U18 Division team in Denmark and was later picked up by a senior Division I team. She could have remained on that team but decided to prioritize things other than soccer.
“I wanted to also get an education and travel abroad,” said Juul. “Coming to the U.S. was a great opportunity for me.”
Juul said she was sold after her initial visit to Bonaventure.
“I went on an official visit and met the team, coaches and staff,” Juul said. “My visit made me sure Bona’s was the best place for me to spend my last year of college soccer.”
Four-year starting goalkeeper and former NCAA Division I saves leader Chiara Gottinger said she had a lot of success playing soccer in Austria, winning the second-highest league there in 2017-18. The senior compared playing for her former team, the SVK Wildcats, to playing at Bonaventure.
“I loved playing for [the Wildcats],” Gottinger said. “They are like another family, just like the team at St. Bonaventure.”
Despite Gottinger’s success in her home country of Austria, she said she had always wanted to play the sport she loved in the United States.
“I did not really have a plan B in case I would not get an offer in the U.S.,” Gottinger said. “I did not look into other teams in Austria for my time after high school.”
Gottinger said she first learned about Bonaventure through an email from former head coach Steve Brdarksi. She said Brdarski was one reason she decided Bonaventure was the right place to be.
“I could tell that he really wanted me here,” said Gottinger. “I had a good feeling about it and so did my parents.”
Gottinger said she ultimately decided to trust her gut feelings and commit to Bonaventure.nShe added that prior to her visit, she wasn’t sure of what she wanted in a U.S. school, but her official visit gave her the answer.
“After coming here, I realized what I was looking for,” said Gottinger. “A community, another soccer family, and a home away from home. And I definitely found that.”
shinnead24@bonaventure.edu
