By: Justin Lafleur, Lehigh Sports Media Relations

 

Lehigh women's soccer senior Darby Dustman came East because she wanted to be independent and make an impact in her field of choice, Engineering.
 
With more than a semester still remaining, Dustman's accomplishments have already been endless. The Salt Lake City, Utah native was named the sophomore of the year in her Industrial Engineering program, has excelled in Lehigh's Leadership program and has been a top contributor on the soccer team.
 
Dustman is truly a student-athlete.
 
"When we recruited Darby, it was almost unbelievable how friendly she was and how good of a student and soccer player she was," said Lehigh head coach Eric Lambinus. "You have a hard time believing you can have a perfect package like that. Then the more you get to know Darby, you realize she is that perfect package."
 
Engineering is predominantly a male-driven field. With ambition to be independent, Dustman wanted to be on her own (which made her look to the East coast) and attend a school that's well-known for females in the Engineering program (which drove her attention to Lehigh).
 
"Being a woman, it's really hard to be successful in any type of business, especially Engineering," said Dustman. "I know at many schools, the percentage of women in Engineering is extremely low. It's awesome to come to a school that's known for its Engineering and features a good amount of women in the program."
 
It quickly became clear that Lehigh was where Dustman wanted to be due to its combination of academics and athletics.
 
"I was looking at a couple schools, but Lehigh became one of my top choices," she said. "After coming out here, visiting the campus and talking to the coaches, I was 100 percent sold."
 
The transition to Lehigh soccer featured something Darby had never experienced before.
 
"The adjustment was a little bit difficult because I had never been freshman status, where you start from the bottom and work your way to the top," said Dustman, who was the only freshman on her high school's varsity team.
 
Although the adjustment to college soccer was difficult, Dustman's on-field play told another story. As a freshman, she played in 16 games and served as a steady contributor. Following the season, Darby earned a spot on the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
 
The transition to collegiate academics isn't easy either, but Dustman has one of the most important characteristics for success, no matter the field… ambition.
 
"Darby is really successful at everything she puts her mind to," said Lambinus. "I think everybody who knows her or sees her on a regular basis recognizes that."
 
Perhaps Dustman's most prestigious honor (of many) came after her sophomore year when she received the Industrial Engineering Sophomore of the Year and Alpha Pi Mu Award (the Industrial Engineering Scholar Society).
 
Sophomore year was also Dustman's most successful season on the field. Darby started all 18 games and scored three goals. Two of the goals came during a crucial weekend which featured wins over Bucknell and eventual Patriot League Champion Colgate to help spark a late-season run to the postseason. Dustman was named the league's Offensive Player of the Week for her efforts.
 
At the end of the season, Darby was named to the Academic All-Patriot League Team which considers all-around performance - athletically and academically.
 
"Coming out of Lehigh, that honor will definitely be one of my proudest moments and best things to look back upon," said Dustman. "It was awesome to be rewarded for both academics and soccer. If you're All-League, it's great because you're doing well in soccer, but there's something beyond soccer. In four years, you have to be independent and move into the real world, which usually doesn't involve soccer.
 
"It was awesome to be rewarded for two things that I love."
 
Dustman's impact has gone far beyond the classroom and her sport. She is heavily involved in the Lehigh Athletics' leadership program where she's worked with Julie Ammary, who focuses on Leadership Education.
 
"My work with Julie will go far in different aspects of life," said Dustman. "In the long run, being able to lead yourself and lead others has really made an impact. I know it will help me in the future tremendously."
 
Dustman has been involved in Student-Athlete Council, has been a Student-Athlete Mentor and is currently in the Leadership Legacies program - the third program in the Lehigh Athletics Leadership Academy which aims to teach athletes core leadership concepts and skills.
 
Ammary has seen tremendous development from Dustman.
 
"Darby has made great strides in her understanding of leadership roles and responsibilities, her sense of self and her assertiveness in interacting with others," said Julie. "She has always been a self-motivated high achiever and a strong competitor, so she demonstrates a high level of commitment regardless of her role. Darby has been extremely dependable and personable, and has truly made a difference in the lives of many first year student-athletes and peer mentors."
 
After a strong sophomore season on the field, Dustman went on to post two goals and one assist as a junior and has seen action in all but one game this year. Although her playing time has been limited, Dustman continues to be an integral contributor to the team's success.
 
"Darby has learned that her leadership influence can transcend her play and she's done an excellent job of mentoring and empowering teammates this season," said Ammary. "She is a great teammate who consistently demonstrates selflessness and big-picture perspective."
 
Dustman has continued to be positive when it would be easy to sulk due to lack of playing time. Instead, she's greatly contributing in other areas that make a team successful while also being ready when her number is called.
 
"Over the course of four years, roles always change," said Lambinus. "One of the pillars that we have with our team, and at Lehigh, is team first. Whatever can help our team become better is most important. I think she completely understands this pillar, embraces it and helps our other players."
 
Dustman's work ethic is well-regarded, and looked up to, by her teammates. She sets an example for the other 26 players with both her work ethic and team-first attitude.
 
"Darby's work ethic in training and in games is unbelievable," said Lambinus. "She's doing everything we ask. We know that we can count on her. She has an understanding of soccer and what we're trying to do, so she can play a number of different roles for us."
 
Dustman is proof that one area doesn't have to be compensated for another.
 
"Sometimes, people think if you want to be a really high-achieving student, you can't put as much time into soccer or if you want to be this unbelievable athlete, you can't put that much time into schoolwork. Darby has proven that wrong," said Lambinus. "You can balance the two and be a high-achiever on the field and in the classroom.
 
"She's a perfect example that you don't have to sacrifice one area for the other," Lambinus continued.
 
Dustman will leave Lehigh with a bright future ahead. Last summer, she interned for Pratt and Whitney in East Hartford, Connecticut, an American aerospace manufacturer with global service operations.
 
"I was involved with inventory - trying to reduce inventory at all costs, but making sure that we would remain profitable," said Dustman. "It was a great experience to live out on my own. I literally drove into Connecticut one day and started working the next."
 
From the beginning, Darby has embraced the challenge of independence and has flourished. She now has several potential opportunities and is already becoming a hot commodity on the job market.
 
"I've been talking to a lot of companies," said Dustman, who admitted there aren't any current offers.
 
The question won't be if the offers come, but when. Darby is looking into rotational programs, usually two-year positions which include four separate six-month rotations.  
 
"During those rotations, you get to find what you like," said Dustman. "I'd love to try a rotational program because you get a breadth of experiences."
 
A rotational program keeps options open. From there, Dustman could go several different directions and choose the area she likes most.
 
"Right now, I'd like to put my toes in a lot of different places and figure out what fits best for me," she said.
 
Lambinus expects future employers to feel the same way he did when first meeting Dustman. As he said, "When future employers meet Darby, they will probably think the exact same thing: "is she too good to be true?
 
"Darby isn't too good to be true," Lambinus continued. "She's exactly what she is and she's going to be an asset to anybody who hires her."