TEMPE — With 22 career clean sheets, Arizona State senior goalkeeper Pauline Nelles will likely reach the ASU shutout record (24).
But as the Sun Devils dawn upon conference play, her focus isn’t on chasing the historic mark. Instead, her team-first mentality leads her to focus on her squad’s overall success.
“I know about the record, everybody’s telling me that, but I have different focuses. … (I) want to win the games, especially after last year, I want to be successful with my team,” Nelles said. “The record is like a bonus.”
Nelles arrived in Tempe via Bonn, Germany, where she first credits her love for soccer blossoming under the guidance of her grandfather.
“I would say everything started because of my grandpa,” Nelles said. “(It’s kind of) like we started playing soccer when I was about four. We played in the backyard every day after school. He brought me to practices.”
She took inspiration from a few players in her native country, citing German goalie Manuel Neuer as her childhood favorite.
“I watch him so much on YouTube and just like in the stadium. In general, like goalkeeper practices, I think it’s just German culture and German soccer style.”
Off the pitch, Nelles enjoys balancing her time with a host of other hobbies. Many of which involve staying active by playing other sports.
“I was actually making jokes about golf that it’s not like a sport,” Nelles said. “Then I tried it and (my roommates) kind of proved me wrong. But yeah, I (also) love to play tennis. … (It’s) just so much fun to kind of get your life balance.”
Maintaining a life balance is something most athletes struggle with. However, Nelles has seemingly discovered the perfect formula to balance the grind of collegiate athletics while forming bonds with her teammates.
“She cuts my hair as well,” senior defender Grace Gillard said. “But just hanging out with her, we do recovery together. She’s just a great person to be around. … We’re very close as well. She’s one of my closest friends on the team, so I think that translates onto the field as well.”
It’s helped Gillard and Nelles form a strong back-line connection, adding to her already strong cerebral aspect of her game.
“I think Paulie, she doesn’t really let the pressure get to her,” Gillard said. “She’s a bit different from the normal keepers (goalkeeper) that you would’ve played with, and I think just learning to trust her and know that I do have her behind me (is good).”
When asked about his goalkeeper, a beaming smile crept across ASU coach Graham Winkworth’s face. As someone who’s spent multiple years with the senior, Winkworth maintains an unmatched appreciation for Nelles.
“I mean, she’s one of the best goalkeepers in the country.” Winkworth said, “I wouldn’t trade her for anybody. … As a teammate, I would multiply what I just said times ten.”
“Off the field, (her superpower) is just her kindness and sweet heart. I think that helps our team’s culture.”
Winkworth still remembers the confidence Nelles brought in as a freshman. It’s a trait that she hasn’t escaped her in her time as a Sun Devil.
“Freshman year away against UCLA, the center forward was chasing her down in the six-yard box, and she (Nelles) just scoops the ball over the forwards to Lisa’s feet,” Winkworth said. “ I was like, Pauli, what are you doing? It was a little more risky than she usually is. … she did that, then said, ‘Don’t worry, coach, I got it.’ And I was like, OK, so I knew I was in for it for four years. You know I had hair four years ago. I lost it since she’s been here.”
As an international commit, Nelles had to adjust to a new environment, a process Winkworth witnessed up close. He credited past teammates for making her feel welcome.
“(We were) very fortunate. We’ve always had a lot of international players,” Winkworth said.
“(They) had similar experiences playing at an extremely high level in Europe. … Obviously, you’re going to miss home, but she was very fortunate to have some leadership when she came in.”
Fittingly, Winkworth finished talking about Nelles by ending on a humorous note. He reminisced about his trip to Germany when he got the chance to experience her culture firsthand.
“I went over to Germany and went to Bonn, which is her home, a little town, and we went for cheesecake, and then she drove me to her practice,” Winkworth said. “(Her) English was a little broken at the time, and so I went to her practice, and I was the only one outside of coaches and players, and I’m watching her train. All these coaches are walking past me and giving me weird looks. … At the end of practice, I asked Paulo (Pauline), Did you tell your coaches I was going to be here? And she’s like, ‘Oh no.’ So it made sense why I got strange looks.”
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