The timing was going to cut it close, but Erica Walsh knew that.

There was no way the Penn State U. women’s soccer coach was going to pass up having Bri Hovington’s skills in her lineup.

Through the last three games, the freshman defender has made an impression on the Nittany Lions back line as a reserve with her speed and communication. And Hovington might not be just a sub much longer.

“[She’s] composed, has good pace. She’s a great communicator,” Walsh said. “That’s why we recruited her, we thought her communication was excellent. She’s coming into her own.”

Hovington came into the season in the final stages of recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear.

The coaches knew there was a chance the freshman wouldn’t be ready to start the season but also expected a quick impact once the she was ready.

While the defense typically sees very few subs, Hovington’s talents are too good to keep her off the field. The defender played in the team’s Blue-White scrimmage on Aug. 22, but didn’t make her regular season debut until the Aug. 29 loss to William & Mary.

After she got her bulky ACL brace off in the preseason, Hovington said she injured her right patellar tendon in a tackle with Maya Hayes. Despite that, and a another, smaller brace she had to wear for a few days, the freshman hasn’t been hesitant since returning.

“I’m not afraid going into tackles because I’ve always heard if you’re afraid going into tackles, you’re going to get hurt again,” Hovington said. “I’m excited to be back out here and it’s a great feeling.”

For some freshmen, coming into an established team can take some getting used to but for Hovington, fitting into the Nittany Lions back line didn’t take long. Walsh said the defender easily adjusted in training and quickly started talking.

Having established defenders in senior Megan Monroig, junior Emma Thomson and sophomore Lexi Marton helped. Hovington said she’s been learning a lot from practicing with Monroig and Thomson, the starting outside backs.

“She’s working hard, she’s very in tune to listening and learning,” Monroig said. ‘She asks questions all the time because she wants to be the best she can be in that position. When she comes in she works hard, gets a tackle in when she needs to.”

Monroig said Hovington works well with all of the defenders and never gives up on a play. With her speed, the freshman can get up in the attack but can also track back to defend easily.

Hovington said she hasn’t lost any of her speed coming off the injury and pointed to a play against Connecticut on Sunday where she and Monroig were able to chase down and stop a 2-on-2 Huskies counterattack.

Combining with Monroig and centre back Carly Niness, the Lions have a quick back

line, a benefit that Walsh enjoys having.

“It gives you a lot of confidence,” Walsh said. “Bri can track players down, it’s actually her strength. Now that she’s a bit more patient with her defending I think she’s really going to come on here.”

With games this weekend against Washington and No. 4 Portland, Walsh said Hovington could crack the starting

lineup depending on the match-up. Whatever her role is this

weekend, Hovington is happy to be back and contributing for her team.

“I’ve been looking forward to being out here with Penn State since I was a sophomore in high school,” Hovington said.

“To finally get back out here, it was an amazing feeling, absolutely indescribable. I love it out here.”