Michigan State University Athletics
10/29/2026 10:39:00 AM | Women's Soccer
By Jordan Cyprian, Special to MSUSpartans.com
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When Michigan State women's soccer goalkeeper Noelle Henning left East Lansing to represent Canada at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in late August, the Spartans knew they were losing an important piece of the lineup.Â
But they also knew they had someone ready to step in.
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Bella Schopp, a graduate student, is in her first year with the Spartans after graduating from Brown with a degree in marketing research and analytics. Schopp stepped up for Michigan State by taking the reins as starting keeper during Henning's absence.Â
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Schopp spent four years at Brown, then transferred to MSU for her last year of eligibility, bringing with her years of experience and two Ivy League championships. Ivy League rules prevented Schopp from continuing at Brown with her fifth year, so she entered the transfer portal and joined the Spartans.
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"I knew that there was going to be an opportunity for me to play, and I was just excited to step up and serve this team and be a part of what we're building," Schopp, a native of Hinsdale, Ill., said.
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Schopp was stepping in during a very difficult stretch of the season for the Spartans. They would travel to the west coast to begin conference play before returning home for a rivalry game against the Wolverines and a couple of matches later to take on the highly ranked defending Big Ten Champion Washington Huskies. Schopp however, knew her team was up for the challenge despite not having Henning as their keeper.
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"Being confident in each other and having a good connection between all the players and just, like, excitement and joy going into these games too, to be able to play our best." Schopp said.
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"It was one of the easiest decisions I've had to make in coaching," Hosler said about picking Schopp as the starting keeper. "Bella is an incredible goalkeeper. We knew that we were going to miss Noelle, but at the same time, Bella was more than capable of being a starter for us."
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Schopp quickly backed up the confidence that her coaching staff had in her. She posted a shutout in her first start for MSU on Aug. 27 against Eastern Michigan and helped the team to a 3-2 win at home over nationally-ranked Colorado on Aug. 30. She remained the starter as conference play began, posting back-to-back shutout wins over USC and No. 16 UCLA on the road. In seven games this season, she owns a 1.29 GAA and backstopped MSU to a 4-1-2 record.Â
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"She's a really mature player," Hosler said. "She carries herself like a pro. She's focused, she's prepared. She works really hard. She doesn't make excuses and she's got a really good voice."
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Michigan State goalkeeper Coach Tori Christ echoed Hosler's praises of Schopp.
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"She has some really valuable experience playing at Brown and having a lot of success there," Christ said. ". I think she brings a unique leadership style that our team is really comfortable with, and it was a pretty seamless transition."
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This seamless transition also comes from the support within the keeper room. Henning, Schopp and freshman Samantha Powell may all be fighting for the same spot, but support each other along the way.
"We're all each other's No. 1 hype person," Schopp said. "We're all working to get better every day and helping each other and encouraging each other."
Coach Hosler gave credit to the team's success in front of Schopp to not wavering from the day-to-day routines.
"When there is a change at such a key position, the more you talk about it, the more it becomes an issue." Hosler says. "So, we didn't really address it much within the group. Â I think for us it was just 'next person up' and business as usual, really."
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When Michigan State women's soccer goalkeeper Noelle Henning left East Lansing to represent Canada at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in late August, the Spartans knew they were losing an important piece of the lineup.Â
But they also knew they had someone ready to step in.
Â
Bella Schopp, a graduate student, is in her first year with the Spartans after graduating from Brown with a degree in marketing research and analytics. Schopp stepped up for Michigan State by taking the reins as starting keeper during Henning's absence. Â
Schopp spent four years at Brown, then transferred to MSU for her last year of eligibility, bringing with her years of experience and two Ivy League championships. Ivy League rules prevented Schopp from continuing at Brown with her fifth year, so she entered the transfer portal and joined the Spartans.
Â
"I knew that there was going to be an opportunity for me to play, and I was just excited to step up and serve this team and be a part of what we're building," Schopp, a native of Hinsdale, Ill., said.
Â
Schopp was stepping in during a very difficult stretch of the season for the Spartans. They would travel to the west coast to begin conference play before returning home for a rivalry game against the Wolverines and a couple of matches later to take on the highly ranked defending Big Ten Champion Washington Huskies. Schopp however, knew her team was up for the challenge despite not having Henning as their keeper.
Â
"Being confident in each other and having a good connection between all the players and just, like, excitement and joy going into these games too, to be able to play our best." Schopp said.
 Â
"It was one of the easiest decisions I've had to make in coaching," Hosler said about picking Schopp as the starting keeper. "Bella is an incredible goalkeeper. We knew that we were going to miss Noelle, but at the same time, Bella was more than capable of being a starter for us."
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Schopp quickly backed up the confidence that her coaching staff had in her. She posted a shutout in her first start for MSU on Aug. 27 against Eastern Michigan and helped the team to a 3-2 win at home over nationally-ranked Colorado on Aug. 30. She remained the starter as conference play began, posting back-to-back shutout wins over USC and No. 16 UCLA on the road. In seven games this season, she owns a 1.29 GAA and backstopped MSU to a 4-1-2 record. Â
"She's a really mature player," Hosler said. "She carries herself like a pro. She's focused, she's prepared. She works really hard. She doesn't make excuses and she's got a really good voice."
Â
Michigan State goalkeeper Coach Tori Christ echoed Hosler's praises of Schopp.
Â
"She has some really valuable experience playing at Brown and having a lot of success there," Christ said. ". I think she brings a unique leadership style that our team is really comfortable with, and it was a pretty seamless transition."
Â
This seamless transition also comes from the support within the keeper room. Henning, Schopp and freshman Samantha Powell may all be fighting for the same spot, but support each other along the way.
"We're all each other's No. 1 hype person," Schopp said. "We're all working to get better every day and helping each other and encouraging each other."
Coach Hosler gave credit to the team's success in front of Schopp to not wavering from the day-to-day routines.
"When there is a change at such a key position, the more you talk about it, the more it becomes an issue." Hosler says. "So, we didn't really address it much within the group. Â I think for us it was just 'next person up' and business as usual, really."
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Players Mentioned
Monday, October 19
Monday, October 05
Wednesday, September 09
Monday, August 31