For three years, senior goalkeeper Sophie Homan has mostly sat on the bench watching her teammates on the Michigan women’s soccer team. Appearing in just five games since joining the Wolverines, Homan’s collegiate career hasn’t racked up many statistics thus far. But she hasn’t let this get to her.
Because, while she was patiently waiting for her turn on the big stage, one quality about Homan has guided her path: her faith.
Soccer has given Homan countless opportunities and joy, but the sport is her passion, not her purpose. Her life’s journey is guided by her Christian faith, not her time on the pitch.
While Homan’s faith keeps her grounded and humble now, the transition from a prolific high school athlete to a support role on Michigan’s squad was tough at first. Homan holds her high school’s record in shutouts with 16 to boast, was given First Team All-State honors in 2021 and was awarded a spot on Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association’s 2020-21 Dream Team.
Because of the Wolverines’ strong goalkeeping unit, formerly led by Izzy Nino and Stephanie Sparkowski, Homan redshirted her freshman season and didn’t tally even one second in the net. At the end of the season, though, Homan’s faith was strengthened through Athletes In Action, which taught her that there’s more to life than just being on the field.
Athletes in Action, a Christian sports ministry with chapters on 200-plus campuses and in 60-plus countries, helped Homan realize that her life doesn’t revolve around sports.
“Going home the winter of my freshman year and going into summer, I really found my faith and learning through AIA,” Homan told The Michigan Daily. “They taught me ‘you are more than your sport. You are a child of God, and what you do, what you produce as an athlete, does not define who you are, and your sport is an extra thing in your life that you can be proud of and work really hard at. But that’s not all of who you are.’ ”
But still, like any big transition, going from playing consistently and racking up awards in high school to now sitting on the sidelines in college wasn’t an easy shift in perspective.
“That’s a transition for a 17-18 year old girl to have her whole idea of what soccer is kind of flip around,” Homan said. “But faith, my coaches, my family and my teammates all supported me through that, and I learned very quickly what my role was and how to be successful and where I could find joy and success in whatever role I was in.”
Despite the major shift in the time she’s spent on versus off the field, Homan’s faith gave her strength as she established herself at a new post. Homan kept faith that even off the field, she could make an impact. So she became a vocal supporter for her teammates competing on the field. Embracing her role, Homan channeled her faith by uplifting others. Through this, she redefined what contributions matter to her. It’s not just about tallying minutes and saves. Rather, it’s her contributions and her constant presence that have made a positive impact on the team’s culture.
“She’s always been a teammate and has understood the concept of ‘We over me’ and what is best for the team,” Michigan coach Jennifer Klein told The Daily. “Her foundation in her faith has helped her keep that at the forefront of ‘We over me,’ and that’s something that she definitely models every single day. And I think it has impacted our team and our team environment and our team culture.”
That ‘we over me’ culture, while crucial for team success, can be difficult to hold on to with multiple talented goalkeepers bringing their own individual accomplishments to the table. And as Homan experienced early in her career, having multiple, more seasoned veteran goalkeepers meant not everyone could get equal playing opportunities, as the team typically leans heavily on one or two goalkeepers.
Despite the setbacks and the long wait for her moment on the field, Homan’s perspective remains forward-looking. Her faith may have grounded and humbled her, but it’s her determination — and the unwavering support from those around her — that fuels her persistence. With each season, the goal hasn’t changed, and neither has her belief that her time will come.
“Playing for an awesome program and that ultimate goal of getting the chance to play is something that always keeps me motivated,” Homan said. “My teammates are incredible. The staff is incredible.”
And this year, Homan’s patience and strong sense of faith is beginning to pay off. She was voted captain by her teammates for the upcoming season, proving that success isn’t solely about doing the most on the field. Now, with just five games under her belt, she’s going to be the leader for the goalkeeping unit this fall.
“What’s great about Sophie is, because she’s been here for three years, she is expected to lead that group,” Klein said. “Sophie knows the routine, she knows the habits, she knows the culture, she knows the environment and she’s definitely expected to have a big leadership role within that goalkeeper unit.”
Through her faith, Homan is being rewarded as that all-encompassing leader for the team. But just because she’s a captain and leader doesn’t mean she’s automatically a starting goalkeeper. With an incoming freshman and an experienced graduate transfer joining alongside Homan and ready to make names for themselves, Homan will need to earn the starting position.
“We really feel like (with) the three of them, we will have a good core group of goalkeepers,” Klein said.
Homan’s time sitting on the sidelines waiting for her chance to go out on the field became a breeding ground not just for skill, but for faith. And even now, as a team captain and leader of the goalkeeper unit, the path ahead is still one she must earn — one practice, one challenge, one moment at a time. Her desire to play hasn’t disappeared, but Homan now sees the bigger picture of how she impacts her team — even on the sideline. So while her starting position isn’t set in stone, Homan remains focused on something bigger than just playing time: her faith.
