Wake Forest Athletics
Deacon Sports Xtra: Versatility, Attitude and Ability to Adapt
3/29/2021 12:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer, Les Johns
It’s Hannah Betfort’s versatility, attitude and ability to adapt that has helped make her so invaluable to Wake Forest.
Hannah Betfort had immediate success on the field as a freshman forward for Wake Forest Women's soccer, finishing the season second on the team with five goals — three of them game-winners.
So, it was a little surprising coach Tony da Luz asked her to move to defense in the middle of her sophomore season.
It's at outside back and center back where Betfort has thrived in her final three seasons with the Demon Deacons. She led an NCAA Sweet 16 run, earned All-ACC recognition, graduated in December and was drafted by the Portland Thorns in the National Women's Soccer League earlier this year.
"So, I had a lot of experience prior to coming to Wake of just being a versatile player, and I just want to be on the field," Betford said. "So, Tony kind of knew that going in and like, I'm just going to play where he needs me even."
Betford, who was a recruited walk-on as a freshman, didn't have any positional expectations when she arrived.
"I came in as a player and he would find the best fit for me," she said. "And someone got hurt and that's how I ended up at forward. And so, when we weren't performing super well in defense he was like, something needs to change.
"I just wanted everyone to be successful. I had experience moving positions, I think that that's my greatest strength as a soccer player. I just know the game well enough to be able to play kind of wherever you put me."
The one position Betford had never played before was outside back, and that's exactly where da Luz was thrusting her mid-way through her sophomore campaign.
"Lo and behold it ended up working out very well," she said. "We ended up making an amazing run in the second half of the season, made it to the Sweet 16 and the tournament.
"It really worked out and we started performing a lot better. Not that I was that great at defense, but it was just enough to move me into a position that I can move someone, you know a chain reaction kind of thing."
The move to defense for Betfort was originally designed to be temporary.
"We had a huge need for defenders," he said. "We made the decision to move her back. We had full intentions of moving her back up front and recruiting a defender, but she was so good. She played her way back there and has been a critical piece for us in the back.
"She's been recognized in the league and then had the greatest recognition by being drafted in the NWSL, where only 40 players are picked. When she is one of the 40, it says a lot about her. She's just scratching the surface. She's still young in the position, and her upside is really unlimited."
It's Betfort's versatility, attitude and ability to adapt that has helped make her so invaluable to Wake Forest. Those are attributes that will likely serve her well at the next level as well.
"I'm just a player that, I mean if it needs to get done, I'll do it," Betfort said. "And I'm not scared of a little adversity and trying to learn new positions my junior and senior year of college. I'm just out here trying to do the best I absolutely can for my team, and in turn that makes me a better player because I can now play five positions instead of just one or two.
"So, it was a lot to go through, but also at the same time I wanted to be that player that could get it done for us."
She continues to want to get things done for her team, returning through the remainder of the 2020-21 Wake Forest season despite graduating and being drafted.
"I told Tony in the fall that I would happily come back and finish what I started," Bedford said. "I mainly wanted to just make a tournament with this group of players. I think that this is the most talented group that we've had, but by far and away the youngest.
"Being a senior captain, I wanted to guide these players towards a tournament and what it takes to get there. I want people to realize how great of a school this is, and I think we have a lot of talent and opportunity. And if I can contribute to that any way possible, I felt like I should, that I could."
The Demon Deacons are right in the middle of a strangely constructed 2020-21 campaign. Normally, the regular season and postseason tournaments in college soccer all take place during the fall semester — with the spring typically a time for development, with just a handful of scrimmages on the slate. But because of Covid-19, the regular season is stretching through both the fall and spring semesters, culminating with the NCAA Tournament. The College Cup will take place in Cary, N.C. May 13-17.
"For her to make that decision to come back, which she didn't have to because she graduated in December and then was drafted — she could have reported to her team right away," da Luz said. "From a loyalty and character standpoint, it says a lot about her to stick around and see us through this season and to help her teammates. That's the kind of person she is. She puts the team first. I'm really impressed with her."
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So, it was a little surprising coach Tony da Luz asked her to move to defense in the middle of her sophomore season.
It's at outside back and center back where Betfort has thrived in her final three seasons with the Demon Deacons. She led an NCAA Sweet 16 run, earned All-ACC recognition, graduated in December and was drafted by the Portland Thorns in the National Women's Soccer League earlier this year.
"So, I had a lot of experience prior to coming to Wake of just being a versatile player, and I just want to be on the field," Betford said. "So, Tony kind of knew that going in and like, I'm just going to play where he needs me even."
Betford, who was a recruited walk-on as a freshman, didn't have any positional expectations when she arrived.
"I came in as a player and he would find the best fit for me," she said. "And someone got hurt and that's how I ended up at forward. And so, when we weren't performing super well in defense he was like, something needs to change.
"I just wanted everyone to be successful. I had experience moving positions, I think that that's my greatest strength as a soccer player. I just know the game well enough to be able to play kind of wherever you put me."
The one position Betford had never played before was outside back, and that's exactly where da Luz was thrusting her mid-way through her sophomore campaign.
"Lo and behold it ended up working out very well," she said. "We ended up making an amazing run in the second half of the season, made it to the Sweet 16 and the tournament.
"It really worked out and we started performing a lot better. Not that I was that great at defense, but it was just enough to move me into a position that I can move someone, you know a chain reaction kind of thing."
The move to defense for Betfort was originally designed to be temporary.
"We had a huge need for defenders," he said. "We made the decision to move her back. We had full intentions of moving her back up front and recruiting a defender, but she was so good. She played her way back there and has been a critical piece for us in the back.
"She's been recognized in the league and then had the greatest recognition by being drafted in the NWSL, where only 40 players are picked. When she is one of the 40, it says a lot about her. She's just scratching the surface. She's still young in the position, and her upside is really unlimited."
It's Betfort's versatility, attitude and ability to adapt that has helped make her so invaluable to Wake Forest. Those are attributes that will likely serve her well at the next level as well.
"I'm just a player that, I mean if it needs to get done, I'll do it," Betfort said. "And I'm not scared of a little adversity and trying to learn new positions my junior and senior year of college. I'm just out here trying to do the best I absolutely can for my team, and in turn that makes me a better player because I can now play five positions instead of just one or two.
"So, it was a lot to go through, but also at the same time I wanted to be that player that could get it done for us."
She continues to want to get things done for her team, returning through the remainder of the 2020-21 Wake Forest season despite graduating and being drafted.
"I told Tony in the fall that I would happily come back and finish what I started," Bedford said. "I mainly wanted to just make a tournament with this group of players. I think that this is the most talented group that we've had, but by far and away the youngest.
"Being a senior captain, I wanted to guide these players towards a tournament and what it takes to get there. I want people to realize how great of a school this is, and I think we have a lot of talent and opportunity. And if I can contribute to that any way possible, I felt like I should, that I could."
The Demon Deacons are right in the middle of a strangely constructed 2020-21 campaign. Normally, the regular season and postseason tournaments in college soccer all take place during the fall semester — with the spring typically a time for development, with just a handful of scrimmages on the slate. But because of Covid-19, the regular season is stretching through both the fall and spring semesters, culminating with the NCAA Tournament. The College Cup will take place in Cary, N.C. May 13-17.
"For her to make that decision to come back, which she didn't have to because she graduated in December and then was drafted — she could have reported to her team right away," da Luz said. "From a loyalty and character standpoint, it says a lot about her to stick around and see us through this season and to help her teammates. That's the kind of person she is. She puts the team first. I'm really impressed with her."
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Players Mentioned
Defender
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