NORFOLK, Va. – Former ODU women’s soccer standout, Iris Achterhof, has signed to play with Durham Women FC, a club based in North East England. Achterhof will begin working on a masters degree and will join former Old Dominion captain Kathy Hill on the Wildcats’ roster.
“It feels really good to be here,” said Achterhof. “I’m excited to start with the team and start playing. My four years in America were really good, I learned a lot, but it was time to move to the next stage and I think this is the one. Being able to study a masters degree alongside playing is huge for me. The main thing for me was always school and my first thought was I want to stay in school as long as I can – so this is perfect for me.”
“I’m excited for Iris in the new chapter, as it will allow her to go further in two things that she excels in: soccer and education,” said ODU head coach Angie Hind. “There is no doubt in the talent she has and it makes me even happier that she joins former ODU captain and standout for us, Kathy Hill.”
Achterhof was awarded Second Team All-Conference USA and All-South Region honors in 2018. She also became a NCAA Academic All-American, the first for the program since 2006. The Groningen, Netherlands-native earned Co-SIDA Academic All-District accolades and was placed on the C-USA All-Academic First Team. Achterhof is a Dean’s List, C-USA Honor Roll and Commissioner’s Medal recipient after compiling a perfect 4.0 term GPA.
“I’m really pleased to have signed Iris,” Durham Women FC Manager, Lee Sanders, said. “The reports I had from her former coach were impressive, she’s technically very good as we’ve seen already, and her work rate matches that. She’s quick and will offer something we perhaps haven’t had before.”
“In the past three years we have now had four players graduate and then go on to play pro in Europe,” Hind concluded. “This speaks volumes for the caliber and ambition of athletes we now have at ODU.”
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