Hallie Klosterman

Last summer, as Hallie Klosterman and her women’s soccer teammates at Russell Sage College were preparing for their fall season, everything was thrown into doubt.

With the COVID-19 pandemic creating waves of uncertainty, the Empire 8 Conference voted to postpone its fall athletic competition. For Klosterman and her teammates, finding ways to stay connected in a time of social distancing became crucial.

“We kept really close with each other over the summer, definitely some team bonding,” Klosterman said. “In the fall, we were in our [COVID-safe] pods, but we still did our best to find time together as a team, do Zoom things together and really just practice our patterns as much as we could do in the fall.”

When the team finally got together for the rescheduled season in the spring, it was clear all that work — spurred by Klosterman, a team captain as a junior — had paid off.

After a short regular season that saw the forward from Modena twice receive Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Week honors, Klosterman was named the Most Valuable Player of the Empire 8 conference tournament as she assisted on the winning goal in the semifinals and scored both the tying goal late in the second half and the game-winner on a penalty kick in extra time against Utica College as Russell Sage won its first women’s soccer Empire 8 title.

“Oh my gosh,” Klosterman said, “it was incredible. Everybody on the team, that was their goal. That’s what we were striving for. Did we have a perfect season? No. But, in my opinion, winning a championship doesn’t have to be a perfect season. If you have some upsets here and there, that’s where you learn. That’s where your growth comes from. That’s what can make or break a championship.”

Klosterman, who has already completed her undergraduate work at Russell Sage and is now embarking on a three-year graduate program in physical therapy, is one of the two collegiate honorees for the 2021 Capital District Sports Women of the Year awards.

“She is the consummate team player,” said Russell Sage athletic director Sandy Augstein-Collins, “always willing to do what is needed for the sake of the team, above personal goals and agendas.”

Klosterman finished with a team-high five goals in the Gators’ shortened, seven-game spring season, but it was her willingness to lead by example that was her greatest contribution to the team, according to head coach Garrett Cobb.

“Hallie was a true driver in our team’s efforts during the pandemic,” Cobb said. “She was a main factor in keeping the team focused and on track for success. Her effort in doing so was amazing and showed initiative by motivating the rest of the team without my direction. The passion and purpose she displayed was evident and has been commended. It has also been noticed by her teammates, as multiple athletes are extremely motivated to follow her example.”

Klosterman maintained excellence on the soccer field while also balancing service in the community and top marks in the classroom. Academically, she was named to Russell Sage’s President’s List, Dean’s List and Athletic Honor Society from 2018 through 2021, and this past academic year was named to the college’s Athenian Honors Society — all while maintaining a perfect 4.0 grade point average throughout her college career.

“It’s always a challenge,” she said, “but I find that the busier I am, the more organized I am. I’d rather be busier than not.”