Simply the thought of being the starting goalkeeper for the Washington University’s women’s soccer team can be intimidating—Wash. U. has reached the NCAA Division III Quarterfinals three seasons in a row and entered the 2014 year ranked second in the country.

That was the situation facing sophomore Lizzy Crist in August, with an added twist. Just days into preseason training, incumbent and junior Amy French, who put up the most shutouts (11) and second-best goals against average (.40) in a single season of Wash. U. women’s soccer last year, injured her wrist, leaving the starting goalie spot open.

Sophomore Lizzy Crist plays goalie in a game against St. Norbert College in 2013. Crist hasn’t allowed a goal in three appearances so far in the 2014 season for the No. 1 Washington University women’s soccer team, and she leads NCAA Division III with a 1.000 save percentage.

Crist did not allow a goal in 140 minutes last season and has seemed up to the task in her first few stabs at filling French’s shoes. The Bears have also risen to the top of the Division III polls, reaching No. 1 for the third time in school history.

Crist and fellow sophomore Nina Gerson have yet to give up a goal this season as the Red and Green have run up a 5-0 record and outscored opponents 16-0 so far. Crist has started three of those games and made nine saves, including several in a tightly contested 1-0 overtime win against Rhodes College last Saturday.

A lot of credit must go to the Bears’ defense, which has allowed only 13 shots on goal across the five games—as compared to 76 for Wash. U.’s offense.

Student Life sat down with Crist to talk about French’s injury, that defense and playing with high expectations.

Student Life: What was your reaction when you found out French was hurt?

Lizzy Crist: All three keepers…had done a bunch of work over the summer because we all came in better than last year. It kind of seemed like Amy and I were battling it out [to be the starter], and it seemed like it wasn’t for sure going to be Amy or for sure going to be me or for sure going to be Nina. Then, the second day, [Amy] broke her wrist…I don’t want to say I was excited, but more like, “Let’s make the best of the situation. I’m going to train even harder now.”

It also kind of stinks because if I have Amy there, it’s really competitive—both of us want it really badly. When Amy went away, it was like, “Dang it, there goes a driving force.” Now it’s between Nina and I, and I need to keep training. Amy will eventually get better and wants to start.

SL: How much credit goes to the defense in making your life easier? What exactly do they do that limits shots?

LC: Our defense keeps everything pushed up in front, and a lot of times when we’re playing certain teams, they don’t even get into our half because it’s just such high pressure. We keep everything in front of us, and [head coach Jim Conlon] always tells us to get behind the ball. If the ball goes over us, then we get behind the ball.

For me, I view being a goalie not as shot stopping, but shot preventing, and so if I can organize my defense to prevent the shot,then I don’t need to make a save. That’s the ideal situation because you don’t want them to get shots off.

SL: How comfortable are you communicating back there behind the net?

LC: I’m used to doing that because of high school; that’s what goalie coaches and coaches in general tell the goalie. You have to command the box. Where [senior] Tessa [Delaney] might be facing me in certain situations, I’m kind of always looking out so I have the eyes for everyone. Last year, just being a freshman on the field, you’re a little bit scared. You don’t want to yell at the seniors. This year, I came in and felt like if I want to be a starting goalie, that’s my job, and I have to command it.

SL: What’s the hardest part about being this team’s goalie?

LC: We have a lot to live up to, especially after last year. Even though coaches say that last year’s team was last year’s team and this year is different, people see [our name] and have it marked on their calendar. Each team we play is going to give us their best, so that means that we can’t get complacent ever…Like Rhodes: last year we beat them 7-0, this year we won in overtime.