When Liv Borkenstein left the University of Memphis soccer program in 2011, she was confident she would be playing college soccer the following season somewhere. But her plans and life-changing events sometimes don't see eye to eye; and after two years she will return to the pitch now in Bakersfield following a successful hardship waiver granted to her by the NCAA.
Borkenstein, a defender from Fort Wayne, Ind. , played in six matches and started twice as a freshman for the nationally-ranked Tigers in 2011, but Borkenstein says a frustrating hamstring injury which took a toll on her mentally and physically led her away from Memphis; then a family tragedy put her soccer career on hold. Her father David had to have several fingers amputated following a work accident, forcing Liv to make a decision about what was important.
“I was going to school but working three jobs back home, sometimes I was working 70 to 75 hour weeks,” she said. “I wanted to step up and support myself and my family financially because with the amputation things got pretty stressful.”
After nearly two years of work, Borkenstein got a text message that changed her path once again, it came from an old friend and trainer who encouraged her to not give up on soccer and follow up on her college eligibility.
“It basically said you are blessed, you have a gift and I want to help you use it,” she said. “I found out I had eligibility and I just went from there and I said I want to go to California.”
Borkenstein said she contacted several California schools, but all of them told her she wouldn't have eligibility until the 2015 season. The only one that took a chance and helped her out with the NCAA was Bakersfield.
“I didn't want to be 23 or 24 years old starting my career all over again,” Borkenstein said. “Mel, compliance and the athletic director here really worked magic with me and it's an honor to play and represent the school in that way because they did such huge things for me.”
Compliance officials at CSUB worked closely with Borkenstein, the coaching staff and the NCAA to lay out her special circumstances and were notified earlier this week that she would be eligible to play for the Roadrunners this season.
“We want to thank the NCAA for working with us and these unique circumstances and allowing Liv the chance to continue her soccer career,” said athletics director Jeff Konya. “I also want to commend the compliance staff here at CSUB for being diligent and thorough in the waiver and application process.”
Academic, progress towards degree and other hardship issues were resolved and Borkenstein will have three seasons of eligibility remaining when she suits up for her first match on Sept. 13 at UC Santa Barbara. She'll make her home debut in Bakersfield on Sept. 15 when the team hosts UC Riverside, those are the final two non-conference games before CSUB opens up their first season of WAC play on Sept. 20 at Utah Valley.
Head women's soccer coach Melissa Phillips says the fact that Borkenstein started as a freshman center back at the number-four ranked team in the nation two seasons ago shows her knowledge and pace of the game will be helpful to the Roadrunners. She's also noticed that Borkenstein's love for soccer and this opportunity shows in her play.
“Liv is grateful for the opportunity, the fact that she has three years of eligibility starting in 2013 is incredible on the part of our athletic director, the NCAA and our compliance staff,” Phillips said. “It does show through in her play, she's been a leader, she's been engaged and she's just been incredibly eager to get back at it.”
Borkenstein is excited about returning to the field at the Division I level next month, especially since she knows how close it came to never happening again.
“It's surreal, especially when you go from thinking that you're never going to play again to then getting the opportunity to play three years at a Division I school,” she said. “I plan on giving 110-percent at all times and helping the team in every aspect.”
More importantly, Borkenstein says her family is doing well, meaning things are finally back to normal for the new Roadrunner, both on the field and at home.
