Oklahoma State University Athletics
Julia Lenhardt
Stats Aren’t the Whole Story
October 16, 2019 | Cowgirl Soccer
By Jack Roberts, OSU Athletics Communications
Statistics speak volumes in sports. They quantify a player's effect on a team and as a result, generally dictate which players stand out among the rest.
Oklahoma State soccer captain Julia Lenhardt has posted consistent numbers throughout her collegiate career. However, her impact on the field is not best told by the box score, but rather her positivity, hard work and leadership.
From a young age, it wasn't goals or glory that attracted Lenhardt to soccer, but the orange slices, Capri Suns and friendships.
Lenhardt began playing for her club team, Sting '98, as an 11-year-old, where she met one of her best friends and later OSU teammate, Claire Gantzer. Though relationships with her teammates fueled Lenhardt's desire to learn and grow on the field, it was her competitive nature that pushed her to be better.
"The competition was big for me," Lenhardt said. "In high school, my club team was at the top of our Texas conference. Almost every year our team was top three out of the whole Texas region. We would go to regionals, make it past our bracket, and we would get to go to nationals where the top eight teams in the entire nation got to go in high school."
Finding success not only fueled a desire to win but to continue playing soccer at the next level. As a freshman in high school, Lenhardt was contacted by OSU head coach Colin Carmichael.
"When we recruited Julia we knew she was a great person," Carmichael said. "We got to know her really well on her visit and got to spend a little time with her. You could tell she was a very positive person, very motivated, loved to play soccer and loved to compete."
Lenhardt decided to bring her talents to Stillwater to play for the Cowgirls, and she has had a positive impact from the moment she stepped on campus.
A starter in all 21 games her freshman year, Lenhardt finished with three goals and three assists on the season. Her high level of play and leadership would lead to her being promoted to team captain, along with teammate Jaci Jones, prior to her sophomore year.
In her first year as captain in 2017, Lenhardt led the Cowgirls to a Big 12 championship. Despite not posting big statistical numbers, her impact on OSU's success was immense.
"She handled it like a champ," Carmichael said. "It's very uncommon to promote a sophomore to team captain. She wanted that responsibility and was glad I trusted her. It could not have been a better decision for us."
One of Lenhardt's most notable characteristics is not what she does on the field, but off of it, and the influence she has on her teammates and coaches.
"Her positivity rubs off on everyone," Carmichael said. "I might find myself on a gameday a little apprehensive, but when you see a kid like that who exudes confidence, you relax and say, 'If she's ready, why can't I be?'"
Before each home game, Lenhardt can be seen walking out of the tunnel at Neal Patterson Stadium accompanied by a child with whom she is joyful and engaged. It is this kind of joy that makes those around her feel valued and special.
In addition, Lenhardt's efforts are evident through her mileage run per game. Halfway through the 2019 season, Lenhardt is averaging an impressive 8.5 miles per game.
Lenhardt's reliability is evident in the fact that she has been in the starting lineup in every game since she joined the program, a number that stands at 76 games and counting, and she has also proven to be a player who can play a variety of positions.
"She works defensively. She makes runs in the offense. She closes people down. She pops out in the wing. She does everything," Carmichael said. "You could play her up front, attacking mid or even center back. She's simply a good soccer player."
Carmichael's high praise for Lenhardt is not just for her performance on the field. The head coach speaks highly of her character off the field as well, which is not always seen by the general public.
"She doesn't get the recognition from outside the group that she deserves, but within the group, from coaches and teammates, we all recognize what she brings to the team," Carmichael said.
With plans of graduating in May, Lenhardt only has a handful of games left in her college career. The Cowgirls currently sit 15th in the national rankings and second in the Big 12 with high hopes for an exciting postseason.
For now though, Lenhardt is enjoying the time she has left at OSU with the teammates she loves.
"I know in two or three months I'm going to be so sad because I'm not going to be with these girls, in the weight room, and practicing every day," Lenhardt said. "I think that we all know that the season's coming to an end."
Carmichael will miss the captain he's had for the last three seasons and is confident that whether or not Lenhardt plans to continue her soccer career, she will find success.
"She's leaving our program better than she found it," Carmichael said. "I'd like to thank her for that and tell her I'm very proud of her. She'll be awesome at whatever she does."
Lenhardt has hopes to play professionally, following in the footsteps of recent Cowgirl soccer alumni like AD Franch, Anna Beffer, Coumba Sow and Laurene Tresfield. Whether it be the NWSL or internationally, Lenhardt will evaluate her pro opportunities once the Cowgirls' season is finished.
A career defined by hard work and a great attitude has helped transform OSU soccer the last three seasons and shows that leadership isn't always found in a box score.
"When Julia is not on the field, we're not as good of a team. That's the biggest stat," Carmichael said. "You can talk about goals, mileage, heart rate and all that stuff, but when Julia Lenhardt comes off the field, our level goes down, period."
Statistics speak volumes in sports. They quantify a player's effect on a team and as a result, generally dictate which players stand out among the rest.
Oklahoma State soccer captain Julia Lenhardt has posted consistent numbers throughout her collegiate career. However, her impact on the field is not best told by the box score, but rather her positivity, hard work and leadership.
From a young age, it wasn't goals or glory that attracted Lenhardt to soccer, but the orange slices, Capri Suns and friendships.
Lenhardt began playing for her club team, Sting '98, as an 11-year-old, where she met one of her best friends and later OSU teammate, Claire Gantzer. Though relationships with her teammates fueled Lenhardt's desire to learn and grow on the field, it was her competitive nature that pushed her to be better.
"The competition was big for me," Lenhardt said. "In high school, my club team was at the top of our Texas conference. Almost every year our team was top three out of the whole Texas region. We would go to regionals, make it past our bracket, and we would get to go to nationals where the top eight teams in the entire nation got to go in high school."
Finding success not only fueled a desire to win but to continue playing soccer at the next level. As a freshman in high school, Lenhardt was contacted by OSU head coach Colin Carmichael.
"When we recruited Julia we knew she was a great person," Carmichael said. "We got to know her really well on her visit and got to spend a little time with her. You could tell she was a very positive person, very motivated, loved to play soccer and loved to compete."
Lenhardt decided to bring her talents to Stillwater to play for the Cowgirls, and she has had a positive impact from the moment she stepped on campus.
A starter in all 21 games her freshman year, Lenhardt finished with three goals and three assists on the season. Her high level of play and leadership would lead to her being promoted to team captain, along with teammate Jaci Jones, prior to her sophomore year.
In her first year as captain in 2017, Lenhardt led the Cowgirls to a Big 12 championship. Despite not posting big statistical numbers, her impact on OSU's success was immense.
"She handled it like a champ," Carmichael said. "It's very uncommon to promote a sophomore to team captain. She wanted that responsibility and was glad I trusted her. It could not have been a better decision for us."
One of Lenhardt's most notable characteristics is not what she does on the field, but off of it, and the influence she has on her teammates and coaches.
"Her positivity rubs off on everyone," Carmichael said. "I might find myself on a gameday a little apprehensive, but when you see a kid like that who exudes confidence, you relax and say, 'If she's ready, why can't I be?'"
Before each home game, Lenhardt can be seen walking out of the tunnel at Neal Patterson Stadium accompanied by a child with whom she is joyful and engaged. It is this kind of joy that makes those around her feel valued and special.
In addition, Lenhardt's efforts are evident through her mileage run per game. Halfway through the 2019 season, Lenhardt is averaging an impressive 8.5 miles per game.
Lenhardt's reliability is evident in the fact that she has been in the starting lineup in every game since she joined the program, a number that stands at 76 games and counting, and she has also proven to be a player who can play a variety of positions.
"She works defensively. She makes runs in the offense. She closes people down. She pops out in the wing. She does everything," Carmichael said. "You could play her up front, attacking mid or even center back. She's simply a good soccer player."
Carmichael's high praise for Lenhardt is not just for her performance on the field. The head coach speaks highly of her character off the field as well, which is not always seen by the general public.
"She doesn't get the recognition from outside the group that she deserves, but within the group, from coaches and teammates, we all recognize what she brings to the team," Carmichael said.
With plans of graduating in May, Lenhardt only has a handful of games left in her college career. The Cowgirls currently sit 15th in the national rankings and second in the Big 12 with high hopes for an exciting postseason.
For now though, Lenhardt is enjoying the time she has left at OSU with the teammates she loves.
"I know in two or three months I'm going to be so sad because I'm not going to be with these girls, in the weight room, and practicing every day," Lenhardt said. "I think that we all know that the season's coming to an end."
Carmichael will miss the captain he's had for the last three seasons and is confident that whether or not Lenhardt plans to continue her soccer career, she will find success.
"She's leaving our program better than she found it," Carmichael said. "I'd like to thank her for that and tell her I'm very proud of her. She'll be awesome at whatever she does."
Lenhardt has hopes to play professionally, following in the footsteps of recent Cowgirl soccer alumni like AD Franch, Anna Beffer, Coumba Sow and Laurene Tresfield. Whether it be the NWSL or internationally, Lenhardt will evaluate her pro opportunities once the Cowgirls' season is finished.
A career defined by hard work and a great attitude has helped transform OSU soccer the last three seasons and shows that leadership isn't always found in a box score.
"When Julia is not on the field, we're not as good of a team. That's the biggest stat," Carmichael said. "You can talk about goals, mileage, heart rate and all that stuff, but when Julia Lenhardt comes off the field, our level goes down, period."
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ Cowgirl Soccer
Midfielder
/ Cowgirl Soccer
Midfielder
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