Northwestern University Athletics
Prince, van der Heide Forge Early Bonds On Northwestern’s Backline
8/8/2025 10:42:00 AM | Men's Soccer
By: Jake Epstein, NUSports.com
Senior defender Nigel Prince became a center back mainstay just two games into his Northwestern men's soccer career.
He soon developed into one of the conference's premier backline fixtures, helping place defensive prowess at the foundation of the program's identity.
"Nothing is changing this year," Prince said. "It's great to have three returners and an injection of talent. As long as we don't rest on our laurels and keep going after it, [defense] will be the cornerstone of our team once again."
The Atlanta United youth academy product has eclipsed the 1,500-minute mark in consecutive seasons, playing a pivotal role in thwarting opposing attacks and spurring buildup play. Prince donned the captain's armband as the Wildcats ranked in the top five in goals against average in the Big Ten last season.
But as Prince officially commenced his final preseason at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium earlier in the week, the two-time captain embraced a newfound responsibility as the Northwestern backline's elder statesman.
"He's still developing — 21 years old is still very young for a center back," Wildcats' head coach Russell Payne said. "He doesn't have to do a lot of things differently from a leadership perspective. We're not going to ask a whole lot more of Nigel as opposed to Nigel's probably going to ask more of himself."
Boys are back ?? pic.twitter.com/OvGPkgygzc
— Northwestern Men's Soccer (@NUMensSoccer) August 5, 2025
It's a full-circle moment for Prince, who has taken up the task of mentoring an especially promising first-year: defender Dimas van der Heide. But the 6-foot-4 Amsterdam, Netherlands, native is no run of the mill college freshman. He's immediately competing for a starting role.
Last fall, van der Heide took a gap year and played for Eredivisie club SC Heerenveen's U19 squad before joining the 'Cats for their spring slate. The experience gave van der Heide a crash course in the physical and technical demands of the Division I level.
"The physicality at college is definitely the biggest difference for me," van der Heide said. "In Europe, it's a lot more technical and less physical. That was something to get used to in the first few weeks. But what I love about college soccer is that it's physical, but you also have a lot of technicality within each team."
Just as Prince carved out immediate playing time as a first-year while leaning on the veterans in his position, van der Heide is keen to learn from his experienced teammates as he adapts to the college game.
While the two stand at near opposite poles of their collegiate journeys, van der Heide said he and Prince have forged a fast friendship. The Dutch defender said the two-time All-Big Ten center back facilitates significant cohesion with his on-field communication.
"He's a real leader on the field, even when he has off-days — which rarely happens," van der Heide said. "He wants it every single time. That's something I really want to take from him, no matter what the circumstances are, always going 100%."
During the past two seasons, Prince partnered with Reese Mayer at center back. The boisterous backline tandem served as a consistent anchor for Payne's squad. Prince said Mayer provided a leadership model both on and off the pitch.
"He helped me galvanize myself into a role where I felt comfortable talking to the other guys," Prince said. "It's good to be in that kind of role to try and facilitate those same lessons onto the next couple guys."
With Mayer departing the program for graduation following the 2024 season, Payne faces the challenge of replacing a player who swiftly became one of the first names on his Starting XI during his last two years at the helm.
But after a standout spring, van der Heide has earned an early bid of confidence from both coaches and teammates. Payne said van der Heide's "spring head start" worked wonders for his chemistry with the team's veteran defensive core.
"His experience overseas definitely helped him out," Prince said of van der Heide. "He's got the physical attributes but he also has the technical traits. He's great on the ball, has the size and everything he needs to translate to this next level. As long as he keeps his head down and keeps working, he's going to be a big piece for us."
Prince, once promised the possibility of building sustained success from the ground up, is a near-half decade removed from his experience as a blue-chip recruit. But Payne's pitch has proven prophetic as Northwestern took marked strides in 2023 and 2024.
With returning experience and a sizable talent influx that will likely include Prince's new center back associate, the senior defender has plenty of unfinished business.
"We just need one or two more pieces to kind of fall our way," Prince said. "I have my eye on the Big Ten championship that we missed out on two years ago. That's what I'm coming for."
