Germany is known for many things, and its passionate soccer fans and how much soccer is a staple in Germany are among them. Some say soccer culture in Germany is comparable to football here in the States.
But what happens when someone comes from that culture, even playing in the Bundesliga II, to college soccer in the States?
Junior midfielder, Michelle Hochstadt, has a combined seven seasons of experience in Bundesliga II and started her American college soccer career back in 2023 with Morehead State, and followed coach Chris Fox when she transferred right here in BG.
“So [the Bundesliga II] was the first time I actually got money for playing soccer. I was like ‘Damn, now I get paid for something I like to do just for fun,” said Hochstadt. “It was a really good league, I’m not gonna lie. It was really competitive, and it was basically a job, not high-paying, but it was really professional. I really enjoyed playing in that league.”
Hochstadt’s playing style brings something different to the table that many American soccer fans may not have realized before. It’s this playing style that brings her and head coach Fox together, and led to her eventual transfer from Morehead State to BG.
“Coach is from England, so he’s kinda shaped by European soccer style too, and in America, some universities are really physical, and that’s not me. I like having the ball on the ground and being more technical. He helped me with bringing the European soccer style to America, so I can have that role in the team as a midfielder.”
When Fox was first named the head coach for the women’s soccer team back in 2023, he said he believed “BG soccer will continue to be a force in the MAC.” This force wouldn’t be complete without Hochstadt’s production, and Fox knew this force wouldn’t be complete without Hochstadt’s presence.
“I think Michelle is a tremendous character, one of the team’s favorite people. She’s got a professional mindset, she’s very driven and she works hard every single day. She is very technical and has a deep understanding of the game of soccer,” Said Fox. “She is very impactful and has a passion and understanding of the game as a whole, and I knew that she would be a well-liked teammate, and that’s a really important thing to have in the dressing room.”
Although they have the connection coming to BG from Morehead State, Hochstadt sayd this was a pure coincidence.
“So whenever I decided to transfer, our coach just informed us [the team] that he would be transferring, so it was not like he took me with him. It was more like I wanted to leave, and then he left,” said Hochstadt. “I played that spring semester with another coach, and in the summer I entered the transfer portal, and then Coach Fox reached out to me, and I was like, ‘Hey, I like this coach, I like his playing style, and he offered me something, why not?”
Hochstadt’s experience in the Bundesliga II didn’t just help Hochstadt on the pitch but also in other departments.
“I think just the professionalism that I see [soccer] as my job right now. Coach brought me here, so now it’s like my job. I show up every single day, get 100% every single day. I had to bring my experience I had in a high league in Germany. Bring it to the girls, bring it to the coach. Try to give everything to the team. It’s like a constant growing.”
Hochstadt has experienced culture shock and teaching moments that spanned different countries, in her almost three years of living between Germany and the U.S.
“Of course, it’s a culture shock because soccer is such a huge thing in Germany. It’s comparable to American Football in America. Sometimes it’s a little shocking how [little] people know about soccer because I just grew up in that environment, you know?”
As well as navigating culture shocks, Hochstadt said going between Germany and America is like “Living two different lives.”
“It’s an interesting feeling. It’s also hard because you can never really settle yourself, like now I’m here and that’s my life, but I also deep inside know I have a home back in Germany,” said Hochstadt. “But when I’m back in Germany, I know I have a home there, but I also have a home in America. It’s like you’re caught between the two.”
But it’s not all living a double life, as Hochstadt says, when you’re abroad, you can find out different things you wouldn’t think you would.
“It showed me how [little] you need to live, I mean, I arrived with two suitcases and now I’ve built up a whole life. I have my own room and furniture. I have so many things, and it’s just so impressive and interesting to see how you can build your own life, and it’s a really nice experience.”
