After four years, women’s soccer team captain Cori Frankenberg’s career isn’t over yet, but she is beginning to look back on her time at NIU.

Frankenberg has two goals and two assists with just five games left in the season. She’s been a key contributor all four years, with her goals all being in key moments. All of Frankenberg’s goals have either been game-winners or game-tying.

She has progressed throughout her career, earning more starts through her four years. Much of the credit for her constant improvement comes from her teammates in practices. Frankenberg believes her teammates’ drive to improve each other works wonders. The team and the physical play of the MAC have also improved her play.

“I have always grown up as a possession-based player,” Frankenberg said. “Coming to the MAC, you have to know that every team wants the ball and will do whatever it takes to get it. I think if you can be strong on top of being tactical, you’re pretty much a triple threat.”

After starting soccer at 5, Frankenberg’s skills progressed through club and high school soccer to the point where playing soccer collegiately became a real possibility. It became her main goal, which led her to NIU. While considering other programs, she became fixated on playing for the Huskies.

“When I came here and I met the team, I honestly felt that they wanted me to be here,” Frankenberg said. “There was something about this place and about the girls that made me want to stay. I wanted to compete for NIU.”

The experience at NIU has helped Frankenberg develop on and off the field. Being a student athlete taught her time management skills and improved her work ethic.

She believes the atmosphere at the school has prepared her for the real world. After graduating from NIU, the media studies major hopes to continue her soccer career overseas.

If that doesn’t work out, Frankenberg is looking into graduate schools or job openings with the U.S. Olympic Committee.

The Huskies have five games remaining this season.

“[Skill-]wise, we have so many talented players,” Frankenberg said. “We have to focus our energy on that, and know that we are a good team. We’ve had some ups and downs. I think how we reacted to it, how we worked hard and how we’ve never given up says a lot about us. It shaped me as a person.”