ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Jenna Northup has a knack for scoring important goals.

Northup, a junior on the Roberts Wesleyan University women's soccer team, scored in each of the Redhawks' three East Coast Conference postseason matches in November as Roberts captured the ECC Championship for the first time.

Roberts closed the regular season with three straight wins and then earned its first automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Championship with a 1-0 victory over Mercy on Nov. 16. Northup, who led Roberts with eight goals this season, scored the winner in the 17^th minute at Mercy and also notched goals in postseason wins over D'Youville in the quarterfinals and Molloy in the semifinals. She was named the Most Outstanding Player of the ECC Championship.

Northup, who began her career at Roberts as a defender before switching to striker this season, also shines in the classroom where she carries a 3.97 grade point average as an Accounting major. A third-team All-ECC selection this fall, she was also named to the CSC Academic All-District Team and is the Roberts Wesleyan University Female Scholar-Athlete of the Month for November.

Big goals are nothing new for Northup, a graduate of nearby Churchville-Chili High School. She also scored the winning goal for the Saints in the 2022 Section V Class A semifinals against Pittsford Mendon. 

Northup also isn't the first member of her family to score a history-making goal for Roberts. Her father, Barry, netted the winner against St. John Fisher in the final of a 1984 men's soccer match that sent the Roberts men to the National Christian College Athletic Association championships for the first time. Barry Northup is a 1987 Roberts graduate.

Jenna was a three-sport athlete at Churchville-Chili, where she also played basketball and softball.

Jenna, who enjoys snowboarding in the winter, spent a few moments discussing life as a student-athlete at Roberts. Her answers have been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.

How much fun was it for you and your teammates to make that postseason run as well as the history that you made?
"I think it was everything for our entire team. We worked so hard throughout this entire season, so I think for it to actually get put to a trophy was huge for us. One of our goals was to win the ECCs, so doing that this year was just great for our entire team."

How about for you personally, scoring a goal in each of the ECC postseason matches?
"I definitely was peaking at that moment. I think just I had a lot of confidence going into the postseason, and I think it really showed on the field."

Whenever people look back at the first time that Roberts won, they'll see that you had the winning goal in that game. How does it feel to be a part of that piece of history?
"I think that's a great piece to be a part of but I wouldn't be anywhere without my coaches and teammates, though. They helped me so much on and off the field, so I can't thank them enough. I also can't thank God enough for being able to even be in this opportunity."

How deep is your family's connection to Roberts?
"My dad played here when he was in college, so I've had a connection with Roberts ever since I was little. I used to come to basketball games and I would come to Homecoming weekends for my dad. I kind of have always been around Roberts and I always looked up to see if Robert was was an option as a college for me.  (Sarah McClellan), the head coach at the time, liked how I played and offered me a spot, so I chose to come here."

You and your dad have both scored some pretty significant goals here at Roberts, have you thought much about that?
"Definitely, because my dad was also a defender, so for him to score that goal it's just kind of funny that I've mimicked that in my play where I was a defender and now I'm a striker."

Do you have a favorite class or professor so far at Roberts?
"That's a good question. I'd probably have to say Strategic Management with Dr. Joel Hoomans. I really liked that class. I felt like a lot that we learned in that class was useful for just everyday life and just what we will do in the future as far as having leadership and accountability for yourself and learning those things."

How would you describe your soccer experience at Roberts so far?
"I think my soccer experience has been great. I think I've definitely grown as a player on and off the field, and I think a huge part of this year was our staff was Christian-based. With me being a Christian, I think that helped a lot. It felt like they cared so much for our team, and I felt comfortable to share my own faith with my teammates and with the coaches. Overall, throughout the years, all the coaches have been great. I couldn't have expected better from them this year, they were just great."

Have you thought about what your role might evolve into next year?
"Yeah, I think (head coach) Bobby (McColl) has kind of already touched on that with me a little bit. He's expecting me to be a leader next year. I'll probably talk to him and be possibly be the chaplain for the team next year, too. I think I want to have a more leadership role on the team since this year there were so many seniors that were in those leader roles this year, and they did a great job throughout the season. I hope that I can fill those shoes and help make the rest of the team comfortable even after our current seniors leave."

How did you get started snowboarding?
"Growing up, my mom, Lynn, wouldn't let me go snowboarding because my sister tore her ACL skiing. She didn't want me to ruin my sports career in the future with the possibility that I could do that, so as soon as I went to college, I asked my mom if I could finally go. She was like, 'Fine, I can't hold you back anymore.' So, I went for the first time two years ago, and ever since then, I've just loved it. I mean, it's great. It's a huge hobby of mine in the winter."

This is a seasonal question: What is your favorite Thanksgiving side dish?
"I really like mashed potatoes. Definitely, mashed potatoes."

What does being a Redhawk mean to you?
"That's a good question. I think just being a leader, mainly, and just putting myself out there and helping anyone I can, but also being confident in myself and not being concerned with what anyone else thinks. Just being myself and enjoying what I'm doing is a huge thing for me. Also, keeping my faith in God and just reminding myself over and over that everything that's happening is because of him. That's huge for me."