Hall of Fame Focus: Honoring A Storied Career

When Jonelle Filigno-Hopkins hung up her cleats in 2015, she completed the final chapter of a storied career. A journey that took her from youth soccer to the world’s highest stage. However, she hadn’t realized there were more chapters of the story that would continue to be filled.

Filigno-Hopkins knew she carried away with her numerous distinctions and awards from NCAA All-America honors to an Olympic medal. What she hadn’t thought of was the recognition that would follow years later. A ceremony to honor her retirement, an induction into the Canada Hall of Fame, and now an induction into the Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame with the Class of 2020. The recognitions reopen the book of her career, bringing memories that spanned her entire journey to mind.

“[Getting the news] made me reminisce on my career. My journey and all the ups and downs. Everything that I went through and all the support I had along the way to get me to where I was within my career. That's what these recognitions are making me realize, that it was a special career. It's something that I'm personally very proud of and I'm very grateful to have been recognized in different ways. It makes me think about how I didn’t get there on my own. There are so many other people to thank with these recognitions,” said Filigno-Hopkins.

As a Scarlet Knight, Filigno-Hopkins graduated as one of the most accomplished players in school history. Her 17 game-winning goals remain atop the Rutgers' career record list. She also stands at fifth with 33 goals and 79 points, as well as sixth with 187 shots. On the single-season charts, she is tied for first with 15 goals in a single year. Additionally, she flourished in one-on-one matchups with goalkeepers, going 8-of-9 in penalty kicks during her career.

Overall, the 2014 recipient of the Rutgers Headley Singer Award was a two-time NSCAA All-Region, three-time all-conference, and three-time all-academic honoree. She claimed Second Team All-America and First Team All-Big East status in 2012 after posting 15 goals, five assists, seven game-winners and a flawless 3-for-3 mark in penalty kicks. In 2013, Filigno-Hopkins was named a candidate for the MAC Herman Trophy, the most prestigious honor in collegiate soccer, and was a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award. Additionally, she went on to play professionally in the National Women's Soccer League for Sky Blue FC, now known as Gotham FC, following graduation.

When asked to reminisce on her favorite memories from her time as a Scarlet Knight, the first moment that comes to mind isn’t even from her own playing days. The program’s historic run to the 2015 College Cup, a run she followed closely, stands as one of the more recent moments she is proud of.

“What the team did in 2015, they did so unbelievably well. I was in awe. That stems from an incredible organization, coaching staff, and then to a great cohesive team that went with it. But that's one thing that's most recent. In general, those five years for me were incremental in making me the person that I am, growing as a person and as a player. When I look back, I'm so happy that I chose Rutgers because it's my life now. My family came from that. Everyone from teammates, coaches, support staff - everyone that helped me balance so many things on the go with the national team,” said Filingo-Hopkins.

“I wouldn't say there's one memory that stands out because it's not even the on-pitch memories. It's everything as a whole, my full experience. The people are what stands out the most, such incredible people that are most of them are still there and that's what's so great.”

From 2010-13, Filigno-Hopkins helped push Rutgers to four straight NCAA Tournaments. A streak that has been kept alive with the program earning a bid for the ninth straight season in 2020-21, 11th in the last 13 years, and 15th overall bid. A foundation of success her and her teammates played a vital role in building. A foundation that the 2015 team built off to advance to the highest level in collegiate soccer.

“You don't really think about it at the time that maybe I had any impact in that. I know people always say it takes years and years to develop that foundation and to continue to build off. I wouldn't say just myself, but every single past player has played a role in getting the program to where it is. Every present player and every future player, it'll be the same. We're all one. It does take a special team, that 2015 year was a special team, to do the things that they did,” said Filigno-Hopkins.

Filigno-Hopkins shares the same sentiment when reflecting on her career with Canada Soccer. A native of Mississauga, Ontario, Filigno-Hopkins earned a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympic Games, scoring the game-winner in the quarterfinals against Great Britain. She was also a 2010 CONCACAF champion and helped secure a CONCACAF youth title in 2008. Overall, the two-time Canada U-20 Player of the Year (2008, 2010) saw action in two Olympic games (2008, 2012) and two FIFA Women's World Cups (2008 U-20, 2011).

“I have to pinch myself that I do have a medal because no matter what color it is, it's such an incredible honor. It’s a blessing to be able to win a medal because there was so much that went in - the blood, sweat, tears - all that stuff to win. The best moment of those Olympics was standing on the podium and seeing the flag rise. I feel extremely lucky to have had that opportunity and to have a bronze medal sitting in my house,” said Filigno-Hopkins.

The medal in 2012 marked the first Olympic medal for Canada women’s soccer. A foundation the program built on to claim gold at this year’s 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

“Everyone plays a role. This year the Canadian Women's National Team won gold and there was so many people that reached out saying ‘you played such an incremental role in the team getting that gold medal’. I'm like, I didn't do anything! I was sitting at home rocking a baby! I wasn't doing anything, but when you think about it, it makes sense. Everyone plays a role in building it,” said Filigno-Hopkins.

Reflecting back on her soccer career, Filigno-Hopkins continues to credit her success to others who were a part of it. Her family, friends, coaches, and teammates all helped lift her to the heights of her journey.

“There's so many people I don't think that I have enough time to thank everybody that I want to thank. Obviously, Glenn Crooks and Mike O’Neill. I’ll never forget Mike taking a trip to Canada to watch me play with my club team. I’ll never forget that they took a chance on me, they offered me a full scholarship. They were so welcoming and just so great to me. Treated me like I was their own child. And Trish [DiPaolo]. I don't know if the team would have had as much success as they have without Trish. All the sacrifices that she's made for the team. You know, I wish she could be honored alongside me,” said Filigno-Hopkins.

While Filigno-Hopkins is grateful for those who crossed her path and helped elevate her athletic career,  Rutgers played a much bigger role in her life outside of soccer, especially with the life-long relationships she made.

“I chose Rutgers because when I visited I felt like that was my home away from home. Being miles and miles away, it definitely was my home throughout those five years that I was there. I’m so grateful because I do feel like even though I don't talk to people on the regular, you could have a phone call with anybody there. Mike or Glenn, whoever it is, and we can pick up where we left off,” said Filigno-Hopkins.

“Soccer itself was a great platform for me at Rutgers. I got to grow, to meet amazing people, to have long lasting relationships. And even more than that is that I had my two sons out of it. If I didn’t go to Rutgers, I wouldn't have met my husband. That in itself is the greatest gift because Rutgers gave me my sons, which is such an amazing thing when you think about it.”

While “On the Banks”, Filigno-Hopkins met Russ Hopkins, a fellow Scarlet Knight who is an alum of the baseball program. The two married in Los Cabos, Mexico in December of 2016, welcoming their first born, Hunter, in September of 2019. The couple recently added a new addition to their family, welcoming their youngest, Easton, in August of 2021.

With a one-year old and a seven-week old, Filigno-Hopkins has her hands filled with bottles and wake-up calls. And though she would not trade any of it for the world, she does reflect on the ease of waking up for training during her playing days compared to her sleep schedule as a new mom.

“It's a little more difficult than waking up for a 6 a.m. training session because now you're up throughout the night, every night. It's normal, it's the newborn stage and it's my second time around so I knew what to expect. Moms are always tired and you just kind of power through it. Tired is the new normal. Back then the sessions themselves were challenging, but compared to now I would say waking up for them was a piece of cake at the time. I would take waking up at 6 a.m. every day, then every two hours in the night, for sure,” said Filigno-Hopkins.

As Filigno-Hopkins takes in every moment of her new chapter with her boys, her name will be inducted into the Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame with the Class of 2020. A few members of her husband Russ’ family, natives of Piscataway, New Jersey, will accept the honor on her behalf at Friday’s dinner. And she may pinch herself once more when all is official.

“I'm shocked. I think about all the amazing athletes that have come out of Rutgers . And then I even look at the class that I'm getting inducted with and you see someone like Eric Legrand in that group. It's a tremendous honor to be recognized alongside those inductees and everyone else that has been inducted in the past. It’s an absolute honor that makes you, a little emotional, mostly excited, and in awe. I’m grateful that I'm getting recognized, but there's just so many people that helped me, and I wish everyone could be recognized in the same way,” said Filigno-Hopkins.

“No one's journey is done, you know, just alone by themselves. There was so much so, so much, incredible help that I had along the way. Not even just physical things like playing, it was people keeping me mentally there and pushing me. I'm incredibly honored and it’s a huge blessing. There's more people that I wish could be honored alongside me to represent my career, my journey.”

FOREVER RUTGERS. FOREVER FAMILY.