Dahlia Bedward, a senior hailing from Altholton High School in Columbia, MD, saw a combined six games over the course of her first three years at Swarthmore. In her second season, she started one game and appeared in four, making seven saves with a 2-0 record in 225 minutes of action. In her junior year, Dahlia was overcoming injuries and therefore saw zero game action. However, in her final year of collegiate soccer, she has so far had a standout, phenomenal year, playing in and starting all fourteen season games. She has also had an array of “career highs,” including 50 saves and a 0.847 save percentage. Her trajectory is a testament to dedication, effort, and patience; all of these characteristics of hers have come to full fruition this season.
Katie Kerman: Congratulations on your second recognition of Centennial Athlete of The Week and your eighth shutout of the season versus Gettysburg College! How does it feel to be taking on a larger role this season and it being the final season of your collegiate soccer?
Dahlia Bedward: I’m incredibly grateful to all of my teammates and coaches for trusting me to take on a larger role this season. It’s a privilege to experience so much success in my final year both individually and as a team. I’m proud to see all of my hard work pay off and contribute to our accomplishments.
KK: Looking back at the games the team has played so far, which one has been the most fun and exciting to play in? Are you particularly looking forward to any to come?
DB: My favorite game so far was definitely against [Johns Hopkins University]. As a senior class we had never beat Hopkins and so we felt a sense of obligation to get it done this time. It was a full-team effort, the final minutes of the game were intense as we tried to grind out the win, but everyone stepped up and did their part. The feeling of finally winning a game after fighting so hard is a feeling that never gets old.
KK: It takes years of dedication, discipline, winning, and losing to come to the success you and the women’s team has had at the start of this season. Who has been an athletic or personal inspiration to you?
DB: Outside of my parents who have provided all of the resources necessary for me to be where I am today, Kobe Bryant has always been my biggest athletic inspiration. His idea of “Mamba Mentality” is about being disciplined no matter the circumstances. Even when I wasn’t getting playing time, that mindset kept me focused and has been a huge part of my success this season.
KK: What are some personal goals for the rest of the season?
DB: For the rest of the season, my goals are to help the team secure a No. 1 seed in the conference tournament, win the conference tournament, and make a deep run in the NCAA tournament.
KK: Do you have a prospective major? If so, what is it and how did you stumble upon that field of study?
DB: Yes, I am a biochemistry major. I have been interested in science for as long as I can remember, but my interest in biochemistry mainly began in high school when I took a biotechnology class. The different applications of biomedical engineering in the pharmaceutical industry is something I plan on pursuing as a career.
KK: Are you looking forward to any courses you might take during your final semester at Swarthmore?
DB: I’m really looking forward to taking microbiology in the spring. Because I’m interested in pharmaceuticals, I’m especially excited to learn about the different types of bacteria and viruses and how they impact human health.
KK: What is your favorite pre-game tradition you have?
DB: My favorite pre-game tradition is sitting in the locker room, listening to music, and visualizing my goals for the game. It helps me lock in, stay calm, and focus on what I want to accomplish once I step on the field.
KK: Do you have a favorite book, movie, or TV show?
DB: I am really into horror, so one of my favorite authors is Stephen King. I’ve read several of his books, but my favorite is Salem’s Lot.
KK: Finally, for a more journalistically serious question, what are you being for Halloween?
DB: I know I’m a little late, but I haven’t quite figured it out yet…
