From Forester to Pro: Aerni Lands Opportunity with Nicaragua's Real Estelí FC

HUNTINGTON, Ind. – When passion, talent, preparation and opportunity collide, sometimes all you can do is say yes.

That's exactly what former Huntington University standout goalkeeper and current assistant women's soccer coach Ireland Aerni did this week after receiving an unexpected opportunity to play professionally.

Less than 24 hours after HU head coach Keaton Albert received a phone call from his sister, Teagon Albert (who played collegiately for Olivet Nazarene and has since played professionally in Europe), Aerni had been approved by the federation, officially added to the roster for Real Estelí FC and was on a flight to Nicaragua.

The Austin, Texas, native will join the professional club for the Copa Interclubes Femenina UNCAF 2026, set for July 24-31 in Nicaragua. The tournament showcases the top women's club teams from across Central America, with matches taking place at Estadio Nacional Independencia in Estelí and Estadio Miguel "Chocorrón" Buitrago in Managua. Aerni has been called in to fill the void left by Real Estelí FC's injured goalkeeper.

The former Forester was a four-year starting goalkeeper from 2021-25 and etched her name among the program's best. A four-time All-Crossroads League selection, she recorded 423 career saves while allowing 115 goals over 63 matches, finishing with a .786 save percentage and 14 shutouts. After graduating, Aerni remained with the program as an assistant coach, helping develop the next generation of Forester goalkeepers.

Now she'll have the chance to test her game on the international stage, representing one of Nicaragua's premier professional clubs against some of the top competition in Central America. It's a whirlwind opportunity that came together in a matter of hours.

"The years of unseen work prepare a player for moments they may never see coming. When the opportunity to play professionally arrived, Ireland has the courage to step away from work, board a plan and chase the opportunity," said Coach Albert. "That's what preparation meeting opportunity looks like. We tell our players to always be ready. Sometimes the biggest opportunities don't come nicely with a bow - they come with a phone call and a bold decision.

"I'm not surprised because that is who Ireland is. God is writing a story in her that only He can pen, and it's incredilble and encouraging to witness. We are behind you, Ireland, go make the most of it!"

Real Estelí FC is a Nicaraguan professional football club based in the northern city of Estelí, competing in the top-tier Primera División Femenil de Nicaragua. The squad recently captured the championship trophy at Torneo Clausura 2026 and plays its home matches at the 4,800-capacity Estadio Independencia.

The Huntington University Foresters compete in 19 intercollegiate sports for men and women. In the past decade, Huntington has produced 192 NAIA All-America honors and 698 All-America Scholar Athlete honors. Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. Huntington has a top quartile ranking in the 2026 U.S. News Best Regional Universities Midwest Rankings.