Hard werken and doorzettingsvermogen. In Dutch, those words mean “hard work” and “perseverance.”

They also describe Sterre Kuijper, a Point Park University graduate student who embodies both qualities as she competes in women’s soccer and cross country in the same season.

Hard work and perseverance are the foundation of balancing two demanding sports. Soccer requires bursts of speed, teamwork and endurance. Cross country adds long-distance running, pacing and mental stamina. Kuijper has learned to manage both by leaning on discipline, balance and the support of her teammates and coaches.

“I always want to get better and challenge myself in every way,” Kuijper said, “But my main priority is listening to my body. Soccer comes first, and then I fit running in around it. Recovery, sleep and nutrition are just as important as practice.”

Kuijper didn’t grow up dreaming of running cross country or even playing soccer. As a child in the Netherlands, her first sport was swimming. That changed after trying field hockey, a popular Dutch pastime, before ultimately finding her passion.

“One soccer practice and I knew right away, this was it,” Kuijper said. “I fell in love with the sport and didn’t want to do anything else.”

Running came later, almost by accident. Inspired by her mother, a recreational runner, Kuijper entered a neighborhood 5K as a teenager. She finished third.

“That’s when I thought, maybe I’m actually good at this,” she said. “I didn’t make it a huge thing at first, but I always liked running on the side when I wasn’t playing soccer.”

After completing her undergraduate studies in the Netherlands, Kuijper searched for a place to pursue both academics and athletics abroad. Point Park University offered both.

“I wanted a bigger city and a team with a style I was comfortable with,” she said. “Pittsburgh felt right: the school, the team and the city all came together.”

The adjustment wasn’t simple, but Kuijper embraced the challenge. She found the U.S. college sports system more demanding than what she experienced at home.

“Back home, academics always took more of my time. Sports were just on the side,” she said. “Here, sports are every day. That’s what I love about it.”

Now in her second year with the women’s soccer team, Kuijper has emerged as a leader. Head coach Colin Baker said her work ethic and selflessness made her an obvious choice for captain this season.

“I asked the staff and players about adding a third captain, and the team voted for her,” Baker said. “She’s a silent worker. The way she shows up every day, focuses on the task and supports everyone around her is huge. She might be one of the most unselfish people I’ve ever seen in a team environment.”

Baker added that Kuijper has grown into a more vocal leader.

“One of the biggest areas of growth I’ve seen is her ability to coach others and hold the standard we want as a group,” he said. “She’s become our second voice on the field.”

Soccer remains her main sport, but Kuijper added track last spring and eventually joined the cross country roster this fall. Just two weeks ago, she ran her first collegiate cross country meet.

“It’s been a really great experience,” Kuijper said. “I’ve learned so much, even though I can’t always be at every practice. The coaches have been supportive, and my teammates from both sports have been amazing.”

One memory stands out: “Colin Baker driving up a shuttle with my soccer teammates to come and watch me at the race as well as the other girls racing,” Kuijper said. “So, they’re all really supportive.”

Cross country coach Steve Kramer and assistant coach Josef DiPietrantonio guided her development.

“He knows exactly how to coach each individual and meet their needs,” Kuijper said. “That’s been really valuable for me.”

Balancing two sports requires careful time management and communication, Kuijper said.

“Our team sometimes jokes that she’s crazy because she’ll run 10 miles after soccer practice,” Baker said, laughing. “But she’s very mature, both emotionally and mentally. Her time management and communication are flawless.”

Kuijper said success depends on prioritizing soccer first, then adding running when possible.

“The sport is only a small part of what you do,” she said. “It’s about how you take care of yourself outside of it.”

For Kuijper, competing in two sports at once is as much about people as performance. Her coaches and teammates support her across both programs, from attending each other’s games to cheering her on in races.

“If I didn’t have their support, it would be so much harder,” Kuijper said. “They’ve made it possible for me to do both.”

As she heads into her final semester, Kuijper continues to model leadership through hard werken and doorzettingsvermogen.

“Being a captain is rewarding because I’ve always tried to be the best version of myself, on and off the field,” she said. “Doing both sports has helped me grow as a player, as a leader and as a person.”