Hinz is No Stranger to Following in the Footsteps of a Great Goalkeeper
In competing to be the one to fill the void left by the graduation of an All-American goalkeeper, Heather Hinz has big shoes to fill. The South Carolina sophomore is no stranger in trying to follow in the footsteps of an accomplished net-minder, as her older sister, Megan, played for four years at Michigan (2014-2017) and is now playing professionally for the NWSL’s Sky Blue FC.
“When I was younger, I looked up to all of my sisters in different aspects,” said Heather Hinz, who is the youngest of four sisters. “With sports, Megan seemed to be very serious about it, and I always admired how every time she puts her mind to something, she goes 100 percent. She was always gone at practice, so I didn’t see her that often. As we got older, we got a lot closer.
“Seeing her go through the recruiting process, going through college, and even her pro experience has helped me a ton. It has brought us a lot closer because we can talk about a lot of these things that other people wouldn’t understand. The fact that I have that kind of mentor is really lucky.”
“Heather and I have always been super close,” said Morgan Hinz, who is 24. “Our relationship has also changed a lot. I remember when Heather was a baby. I remember when she was first training in goal, I would coach her. I went off to college and then played overseas, and I come back, and she has figured out who she is. I always looked at her as my baby sister, but now we’re really good friends. I talk to her every single day. Now we can lean on each other, like peers.”
Heather Hinz is battling with freshman Taylor Fox for the starting job as South Carolina’s goalkeeper after four-year-starter Mikayla Krzeczowski graduated last year. Fox started the first two games for the Gamecocks this year, but Hinz earned her first career start last Sunday against Kentucky and posted a clean sheet in South Carolina’s 1-0 victory.
“I hope, in the future, I can follow in her footsteps and play pro as well.”
– Heather Hinz
Megan has been a goalkeeper since she was eight years old, while Heather came to the position a little bit later.
“I was mainly a field player,” Heather Hinz said. “I wanted to be a field player because all I wanted to do was score goals. In the eighth grade, I ended up switching. I love training because it’s really fun to let loose and fly around. I really like diving a lot. I also like being able to control the back line. Having that leadership and organizational aspect of it is probably my favorite part.”
“I just remember wanting to be in goal and not being good at all,” Morgan Hinz said of her start at the position. “My mom had signed me up for goalkeeping training sessions. It was this new world of all these fun things that we got to do; getting to dive and getting to make these amazing saves. I just kept signing up until I got decent enough to play the position.”
The elder Hinz did more than get decent at it. She finished her career at Michigan ranked inside the top 10 in several of the program’s goalkeeping categories, including wins, shutouts, saves and goals against average, before moving on to professional soccer. After seeing that success, there wasn’t much doubt that Heather wanted to follow in her sister’s footsteps.
“I was always very serious about soccer,” Heather Hinz said. “When I was in the seventh grade, I saw how well she did in goal, and I saw how much of a drive she had and how much she loved it. I didn’t want to do exactly what she’s doing. I wanted to do it my way. I always tell her, ‘I’m not you. I’m a different version.’
“She decided what she wanted for her future, and she decided she was going to play pro. I really admired that drive, and I wanted that drive as well. I think that’s what has pushed me to be able to play at South Carolina. I hope, in the future, I can follow in her footsteps and play pro as well.”
The age difference as kids kept them from being direct competitors, and the sibling rivalry was held in check, at least as far as soccer was concerned.
“When it came to other stuff (outside of soccer), we would fight tooth and nail,” Heather Hinz said. “As I got older, I definitely started to challenge her a little bit more. She won’t admit it.
“She has been a huge role model for me. She does push me to get better. I think sometimes I’ll push her a little bit.”
“Of course, I can’t go easy on her,” Megan Hinz said. “She knows I want her to succeed.”
Now that they’re older, the siblings certainly have their own opinions of who would come out on top if it came down to penalty kicks against each other.
“Oh, it would be a full-on battle,” Megan Hinz said.
“Oh, I’m killing her!” Heather Hinz said.
“I’d win,” Megan added, shaking her head at Heather’s bravado.
Sibling rivalry aside, Heather is appreciative of Megan’s support in her journey to becoming the best she can be on the pitch.
“My freshman year, something she really helped me with was telling me to focus on my development and what’s going to make me the best,” Heather Hinz said. “It was about how was I going to get better today and do better for the team. That helped me stay positive.”
“My advice is for her to be her own person, know what it is she wants, and know that she is capable,” Megan Hinz said. “I tuned in as soon as I could (on Sunday). I was super-happy with it.
“I just want to see her go out there and be the goalkeeper she is. Go out there and command the field. Be confident and comfortable and make those crazy ‘Heather saves’ that she has always been able to make. Just enjoy every minute you get to go on the field. Be comfortable, confident and have fun.”
