URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — Illinois rising senior Lia Howard ended her summer as a national runner-up with the NC Courage USLW team.

Howard joined the defending league champions this summer to train and compete during the offseason before her senior year with the Illini. The Courage repeated as Eastern Conference champions but were defeated in the national championship game by Utah United.

“It’s so worth it to go outside your comfort zone,” said Howard. “I was a little nervous because I’d played on Long Island for the past two summers, and that’s where I’m from so I was very comfortable in that space. But living on my own and moving to Raleigh and meeting new people and I just got to learn so much from new minds, new attitudes and a new style of soccer. It was, it was great.”

During her junior season, Howard had three goals and a team-leading four assists.