Kankakee Times

If ever there seemed a case of manifest destiny, it’s the news that Andrea Rose and the Olivet Nazarene (ONU) women’s soccer program are now one.

The Glenbard South soccer star was just 7 when she first set foot on campus to see ONU in action. Fast forward nearly a decade -- with her now having earned the reputation as being one of the area’s best defensive midfielders -- her recruitment has taken her to universities all over the country in search of the right collegiate fit. 

In the end, Rose came to believe there was just one choice: Olivet was the only place where she wanted to be.

"It is cool how my college search has taken me to visit many schools, but God brought me back here in the end,” she said in a press release made available to the Kankakee Times, after officially signing on the dotted line. “Olivet is academically strong in what I want to study, and the fact that everyone I met was so nice and dedicated to Christ makes Olivet even more enticing." 

ONU veteran coach and proud alum Bill Bahr seconded the words echoed by his latest addition.

“She’s a mature young lady who’s hard working and already a great player,” Bahr, who also starred at ONU as a member of the men’s team, said. “I think she will find this environment to be one where she can continue to grow as an individual and an athlete.”

The 5-foot-3 star defender arrives with a level of acclaim few can match.

At Glenbard, she’s been a three-year varsity starter and has also starred for the Synergy Soccer Club, where she helped lead the team to championship titles at the Great Lakes Soccer Challenge and the Memphis Germantown Invitational.

“I’ve only coached her for a year, but she’s been a joy from the start,” Glenbard Coach Kevin Berner said. “At Olivet, she’ll be one of those players that leads by example. Andrea’s one of the nicest kids, but on the field she competes hard and aggressively. She’ll be ready to go at that level.”

At Glenbard, Rose has also been a member of the High Honor Roll every year, and is recognized by the National Honor Society and editor of the school’s yearbook.

Now in his 18th season at Olivet, Bahr has led ONU to at least 15 wins in each of its last 10 seasons. The three-time Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year sees Rose as being instrumental in continuing that steady and upward trend.

“She will come in and add depth to our program right out the door,” he said. “With freshmen, it can sometimes be hard to project, but we feel like she has all the tools to be a big part of what we do.”