Junior goalkeeper Nilou Lempers stands in goal, isolated. She is the last line of defense for her team, yet also plays an entirely different game altogether. She wears a different jersey, abides by different rules. Her job is not easy.
As a goalkeeper, Lempers is no stranger to pressure. Instead of being broken by it, however, Lempers has grown from it. Having denied over 88 percent of shots this season, she boasts the second-highest save percentage in the nation, serving as the defensive backbone for a No. 2 Virginia team with championship aspirations.
The goal is to “put a ring on my finger at the end of this semester,” according to Lempers. A national championship would be fitting for the keeper — not only would it mark the team’s rise to dominance, but also affirm her personal journey to a new country and etch her name into the program’s history books.
Born and raised in Amsterdam, Lempers experienced a world different in language and culture from the rest of her Virginia classmates and teammates. Landing at the University, Lempers quickly realized her transition would have plenty of obstacles lying in wait.
“It was a little different and really chaotic,” Lempers said. “I signed really late, so I had some problems with my visa. I missed the whole preseason my first year, and even the first week of school.”
Since the beginning, Lempers’ journey both on and off the field has been far from a linear one. She played in just two games her freshman year and five in her sophomore year. Lempers posted a below-average save percentage of 67 percent, and the team went .500 in her four starts. All the while, she was still trying to navigate an entirely new country.
“The little things are different,” Lempers said. “I never used to bike with my helmet. I was like, ‘Oh yeah, I have to wear a helmet here,’ but it's so normal for me to just step outside and grab my bike in the Netherlands and just ride.”
Much like a bike ride, the beginning of Lempers’ journey was the hardest. She spoke little English, making social interaction and communication with teammates difficult. As the goalkeeper, she serves as the organizational hub for the defense, constantly dictating and leading the players around her. But in her first year, silence became the new normal. She preferred saying nothing, rather than risk a slip-up.
“I was scared to make mistakes in English, or that people would be like, ‘What is she saying?’ I also didn't understand jokes, and I didn’t know how to make jokes.” Lempers said with a smile. “So, I think I was a little boring in my first year.”
She found stability and comfort in Coach Ole Keusgen. Keusgen, born in Germany, was promoted to head coach in 2023, the same year Lempers joined the team, after spending the previous five serving as assistant coach for the squad. Having undergone a similar transition to the United States, Keusgen made sure to keep an eye on Lempers. He kept his office open at all times for her, always reminding her that he was in her corner.
“I really appreciate Ole,” Lempers said. “He always checks on me … Even when I'm not really good at talking, especially not about my emotions, even when I didn’t tell anybody that I didn’t feel great, he was the only person that saw it.”
Lempers praised the connection between Keusgen and his squad. A team must have trust in their coach in order to succeed, and there is no shortage of that for the Cavaliers. Lempers believes this tight connection is a key to the team’s success. She even credits her teammates with shaping her into the person she is today.
“Now, the team is making fun of me in a good way, so even when I say something stupid, we can laugh about it,” Lempers said. “I think what is really helpful is that we are not only close on the field, but also off the field.”
While Lempers made progress adjusting to her new team, she also needed to adjust to a new university. In Amsterdam, she remarked, school was always secondary behind sports. With no academic requirement in place to compete, Lempers recounts how people would do the bare minimum to get by in school. One of the biggest cultural shifts in coming to America was the higher academic standard upheld for student-athletes, especially at a top-tier school like Virginia.
Yet, even off the field and in academics, Lempers’ competitive spirit pushes her forward. She has a clear desire to not just keep up but instead lead the pack in every aspect of life. Her school work, which initially began as a competition against those around her, has become a competition with herself.
“Here, I have the feeling that everyone wants an A or an A+, so I'm like, ‘Okay, now I need to get that as well,’” Lempers said. “I want to beat myself every time and be better every semester.”
Her hard work has paid off — Lempers has been named to the ACC honor roll every year thus far in her collegiate career. Despite English being a secondary language for her, Lempers has not let that stop her from achieving success both academically and athletically. Yet with the complexity of life surrounding her, her mindset has remained simple and focused.
“I perform the best if I don't think too much,” Lempers said. “If I just have fun with the team, enjoy what I'm doing, then I will be at my best.”
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