Grace Walter: Tenured & Confident
Jun 14 | Women's Soccer
Women's soccer's fifth-year senior goalkeeper enters final season "On the Banks" with self-reliance and a mentor's mindset
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - After four years "On the Banks" as a goalkeeper, senior Grace Walter has decided to return for a fifth and final season in 2023. With a veteran presence in the locker room by being one of the two oldest players on the current roster, the Hainesport, New Jersey native will be competing for the new starting netminder job for the 2023 Scarlet Knights.
Walter knew she was coming back for a fifth year long before the 2022 season ended. With the pandemic giving all NCAA athletes an extra year of eligibility, Walter's choice in playing an extra campaign was a "no-brainer decision."
"The past four years I have had here at Rutgers have been nothing short of amazing," Walter said. "Winning Big Ten championships and reaching the Final Four have become standard goals, so we have some unfinished business after last season."
Three netminders are currently on the team's roster with Walter as the longest tenured. Along with the Hainesport native, sophomore Olivia Bodmer and junior Cameron Kennett are the other goalkeepers rostered. Despite seniority in her favor, she is open to whatever role she will play this upcoming fall.
"My role as a fifth-year senior will be to guide the first-years, sophomores and transfer players into what life is like at Rutgers and how this program functions," Walter said. "Whether I play or not, this team is going to be special to be a part of and to watch. The starting goalkeeper decision is up to the coaches, but I know I have been working hard on my fitness by getting extra reps in the weight room. Between the three of us - Olivia, Cameron and I - we all are working hard for it."
Regardless of playing time, Walter looks to be a strong mentor to her Scarlet Knight teammates. She emphasizes the close relationship all three goalkeepers have and the importance of the support system.
"The three of us are very close already as we have all known each other from a young age," Walter said. "As someone who is an older mentor, teammate and friend, I aim to make sure that I'm there for both of them by encouraging them in the long run. Reminding them that you might have bad days, but it won't carry into the long run, will be crucial in how I do this."
The goalkeeper has loved being at Rutgers since the first time she stepped foot on campus. From her freshman year to her upcoming fifth year, Walter has enjoyed many moments with the Scarlet Knights. Some being the biggest events in program history and little things that aren't as recognizable or well known.
"Beating Arkansas to make the College Cup and eventually playing there are easily some of the best moments I have had at Rutgers," said Walter. "The night before we won, Amirah Ali and I watched some of Arkansas' previous games to prepare for the contest. I turned to Amirah and told her that she better hug me when we win. There is a video of us hugging each other as I ran onto the field to meet up with her after we had won. The confidence in being able to do this and the reaction that came with it has been my most favorite memory here."
A lot of the joy that comes from her time at Rutgers stems from her relationship with the program's head coach, Mike O'Neill. O'Neill has been the bench boss for a decade, and he, along with the rest of his coaching staff at Rutgers, goes back with Walter to her days with PDA. O'Neill's "family-oriented" attitude is what defines Walter's connection with him.
"I've known Coach O'Neill and all of our coaches since a young age," Walter said. "I played for PDA and I've been in and around their coaching style and their style of play for a long time now. Coach O'Neill is a guy that makes sure you are confident and that you are taking care of your business on and off the field."
When it's all said and done, Grace Walter will exit Rutgers after the 2023 season. When the curtain call comes and every moment is recorded in the history books, the Hainesport native wants to be remembered as the confident person she has become "On the Banks."
"I want to be remembered as the girl who came in as a shy little freshman that left as a confident senior who is ready to deal with anything life will throw at her," Walter said. "This program has helped shape me in ways I never thought would be possible. I never would have been able to read a scouting report in front of 20 to 30 girls before I came here. Now, the confidence that many people throughout this program have instilled in me these past couple of years has helped create the confidence I have today."
Walter knew she was coming back for a fifth year long before the 2022 season ended. With the pandemic giving all NCAA athletes an extra year of eligibility, Walter's choice in playing an extra campaign was a "no-brainer decision."
"The past four years I have had here at Rutgers have been nothing short of amazing," Walter said. "Winning Big Ten championships and reaching the Final Four have become standard goals, so we have some unfinished business after last season."
Three netminders are currently on the team's roster with Walter as the longest tenured. Along with the Hainesport native, sophomore Olivia Bodmer and junior Cameron Kennett are the other goalkeepers rostered. Despite seniority in her favor, she is open to whatever role she will play this upcoming fall.
"My role as a fifth-year senior will be to guide the first-years, sophomores and transfer players into what life is like at Rutgers and how this program functions," Walter said. "Whether I play or not, this team is going to be special to be a part of and to watch. The starting goalkeeper decision is up to the coaches, but I know I have been working hard on my fitness by getting extra reps in the weight room. Between the three of us - Olivia, Cameron and I - we all are working hard for it."
Regardless of playing time, Walter looks to be a strong mentor to her Scarlet Knight teammates. She emphasizes the close relationship all three goalkeepers have and the importance of the support system.
"The three of us are very close already as we have all known each other from a young age," Walter said. "As someone who is an older mentor, teammate and friend, I aim to make sure that I'm there for both of them by encouraging them in the long run. Reminding them that you might have bad days, but it won't carry into the long run, will be crucial in how I do this."
The goalkeeper has loved being at Rutgers since the first time she stepped foot on campus. From her freshman year to her upcoming fifth year, Walter has enjoyed many moments with the Scarlet Knights. Some being the biggest events in program history and little things that aren't as recognizable or well known.
"Beating Arkansas to make the College Cup and eventually playing there are easily some of the best moments I have had at Rutgers," said Walter. "The night before we won, Amirah Ali and I watched some of Arkansas' previous games to prepare for the contest. I turned to Amirah and told her that she better hug me when we win. There is a video of us hugging each other as I ran onto the field to meet up with her after we had won. The confidence in being able to do this and the reaction that came with it has been my most favorite memory here."
A lot of the joy that comes from her time at Rutgers stems from her relationship with the program's head coach, Mike O'Neill. O'Neill has been the bench boss for a decade, and he, along with the rest of his coaching staff at Rutgers, goes back with Walter to her days with PDA. O'Neill's "family-oriented" attitude is what defines Walter's connection with him.
"I've known Coach O'Neill and all of our coaches since a young age," Walter said. "I played for PDA and I've been in and around their coaching style and their style of play for a long time now. Coach O'Neill is a guy that makes sure you are confident and that you are taking care of your business on and off the field."
When it's all said and done, Grace Walter will exit Rutgers after the 2023 season. When the curtain call comes and every moment is recorded in the history books, the Hainesport native wants to be remembered as the confident person she has become "On the Banks."
"I want to be remembered as the girl who came in as a shy little freshman that left as a confident senior who is ready to deal with anything life will throw at her," Walter said. "This program has helped shape me in ways I never thought would be possible. I never would have been able to read a scouting report in front of 20 to 30 girls before I came here. Now, the confidence that many people throughout this program have instilled in me these past couple of years has helped create the confidence I have today."
Players Mentioned
GK
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's SoccerRutgers Women's Soccer vs. Michigan Highlights | 10/19/2025
Thursday, October 23
Rutgers Athletics Launches the Athletic Excellence Fund
Monday, October 06
Rutgers Women's Soccer vs. Fairfield Highlights | 8/17/2025
Monday, August 18
Rutgers Women's Soccer vs. NJIT Highlights | 8/14/2025
Friday, August 15
