Northwestern University Athletics
Lauren Clem’s Team-First Attitude Lifts Wildcats
11/11/2016 1:08:00 PM | Women's Soccer
By Amit Mallik, Northwestern Athletics
EVANSTON, Ill. -- The penalty shootout in the Big Ten quarterfinal between Nebraska and Northwestern was tied at two apiece at Martin Stadium on the last Sunday in October. The moment could not get any bigger.
Emily O'Neal stepped up for Nebraska to take the 12-yard spot kick. The only problem was that O'Neal had to score on Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year Lauren Clem.
O'Neal fired the shot low into the left corner, but Clem dove first with a premonition and came up with her biggest save of the year. The Wildcats won the shootout 4-3 and advanced to the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament.
"I think the shootout is a chance for me to make a play and help our team win." Clem said. "I try to read where the other player is going and make a save, and keep my confidence the entire time."
For the women's soccer team, this fall has been one of the best seasons in program history in large part to Northwestern's impenetrable defense that has allowed just six goals in 20 games this season. The success in the back starts with Lauren Clem, the reliable junior goalkeeper.
Clem's accomplishments have piled up this season: Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year, All-Big Ten First Team, highest save percentage and lowest goals-against average in the country, program single-season shutout record, and program career shutout record.
But for Clem, all of those achievements are second to winning games as a team.
"As long as we win, I am happy," Clem said. "It takes all of us to win, and the shutouts are a team stat and a team record as far as I am concerned."
Clem and the 'Cats have fulfilled their goals, spending most of their season winning. They tied the program regular-season record for wins and captured a share of the first-ever Big Ten Title in program history.
Clem's meteoric rise the last two seasons is intertwined with the budding NU backline. With the arrival of now-sophomores Kayla Sharples and Hannah Davison in 2015, the Wildcats built one of the best defenses in the country along with veterans Kaitlin Moore, Kassidy Gorman, and Nikia Smith. In the last two seasons, Northwestern has posted 26 shutouts in 42 games.
"The back four, whoever has been back there, has been amazing this season," Clem said. "They know how to work and since I came to Northwestern, we have started from the back and worked ahead."
Clem's team-first mindset is always on display, especially in the trust she has in her teammates to stop any attack before it reaches her. But Clem's individual success is no fluke -- like the stop against Nebraska, she makes truly spectacular saves when called upon.
Clem's incredible talent goes back to high school, when she was a three-sport athlete. She played soccer, volleyball and basketball and now tries to use all elements from all three in her approach to goalkeeping. Combined with her towering physical presence between the posts, her natural athleticism has given her a unique shot-stopping ability.
Being a goalkeeper is more than just having talent, and Clem boasts a superb mental approach to the game as well. Her ability to stay calm and have confidence in her game keeps her sharp between saves and ensures that she is always ready.
"The coaches this season have put us in the mental place to succeed," Clem said. "They make you figure out the answers on your own, and keep us grounded. We take it one day at a time and we believe that our hard work will pay off."
Clem's mental toughness expresses itself in constant positivity and she can be heard throughout any match yelling words of encouragement to her teammates. She is unfazed by any pressure that comes with being a goalkeeper and knows that her teammates trust her.
"I like the pressure and I see it as an opportunity to help my team," Clem said. "We all just try to stay calm together and know that we can not force anything."
Northwestern is back in the NCAA tournament for the second year in a row and Clem believes that this year's team has the potential to accomplish something special.
"This is such a down-to-earth team, but we are also serious too," Clem said. "The team makes the job fun, and I would not trade it for anything else."
Clem's mentality and ability have carried the 'Cats to unprecedented heights for the program. But as she will be the first to tell you, the team has carried her just as far.
Northwestern will put its season on the line on Saturday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Martin Stadium at 3 p.m. against Kent State.
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Players Mentioned
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