.png&type=webp)
Bowling Green State University Athletics
Career Construction: Erdman’s Life on the Site and the Pitch
October 15, 2026 | Women's Soccer
A senior defender from Mokena, Illinois, Christine Erdman has spent four years as a Falcon, wearing a hard hat on the construction site and cleats on the soccer field.
Playing for Club Select Soccer Club in Chicago throughout high school, Erdman knew she wanted to continue playing soccer in college
"I think once you hit high school, obviously everyone starts talking about July 15th , your junior year," Erdman said about signing. "So, I was like, all right, like, I'm either in this or I'm not. I just stuck with it."
As she was going through the recruitment process, she knew academics were important and sports don't last forever.
"Having a construction management program was really big for me too because academics are just as important as athletics in my family," Erdman said. "So having both was very nice and that's what made me commit here."
Bowling Green State University defines construction management as "a fast-growing, versatile career track that draws ambitious, outside-the-box thinkers excited by the promise of something new every day."
Choosing construction management as a major had always been on her mind. Her parents both work in construction, which made her decision easier.
"That helped me kind of find the path. Going through all the other majors, I'm like, 'I can't do blood,' so I'm not gonna be a nurse, not gonna be anything with medicine," joked Erdman.
She thrives in a fast-paced environment, where construction management brings something new each day.
As for any student-athlete, managing your schedule can be a whole new routine. For Erdman, her freshman year was the hardest.
"You're adjusting to all of this and it's not like you get a semester to adjust," Erdman said. "Just jump right into it in the summer and then you go straight into school."
Since freshman year, Erdman has found what works best for her in terms of putting in enough study hours in her day for her demanding major.
"Having those study hours … definitely helped me a lot, adjusting everything and having mandatory hours which helped me develop throughout these past four years," Erdman said. Now I give myself that time I would freshman year to study for specific classes."
As a construction management major, she's had to adapt to the demanding class load on top of her soccer schedule.
"Last year, I had days where it was … I'd go to practice, go to one class, have an hour break and then go to another, and then have a 6-9 PM class," Erdman said. "So, I'd be dead by the end of the day."
During the summer, her days wouldn't be much different. Putting in the hours to train for soccer after a full day on the job site opened her eyes as to what her career has in store.
"Over the summer, I work full time. So, I work from 7-4 PM," Erdman said. "I worked at the Whiting-Turner contracting company this past summer. It's a commercial construction job back in Chicago. So, I worked there and then I go to practice from 8-10 PM."
Christine already has a job lined up at a contracting company back in Chicago, after the season and her graduation.
"I'll start off as a project engineer, which is the lowest of a project manager, and I'll just build my way up," she said. "But my plan is to go home, be with my family, obviously and then do what I love, which is construction."
Erdman is the secretary for BGSU's Purple Hard Hats club. The club brings females together to empower one another and provides professional development opportunities for their future.
"Purple Hard Hats is construction management, interior design and architecture," explained Erdman. "My girl friend group outside of soccer is all from Purple Hard Hats."
Since she set foot on campus, she has found her home away from home with her career path and her team.
"I really fell in love with my major and made a lot of friends in there," Erdman said. "So that was a big part because obviously you have to look at it, 'Well, if soccer's not in the photo, am I still happy here?'"
In 2025, she was selected for the Community Service Individual of the Year award among all BGSU student-athletes. Head coach Chris Fox explains how important it is for her and the team to give back to the community.
"A testament to Tiney (Erdman, pronounced Tea-knee) … that's a big part of our culture," Fox said. "We want to be involved in the community. We want to give back, and obviously in the past, that was a team-based thing, and then last season being individual, like that didn't surprise me one bit."
Fox also expressed his gratitude towards Erdman's recognition and explained what it meant to the program.
"It just shows her selfless nature," Fox said. "I think that's who she is as a human being: devotion and spirit. It meant a lot to our program and we are incredibly proud of her."
Both on the construction site and on the soccer field, Erdman knows speaking up is important. Being the only female in the male-dominated field can make it more difficult.
"You can't be quiet when you're in construction. You have to be loud and energetic," Erdman said. "So, when I need to help my team with energy, I have a loud voice that will be spoken and help my team, whether it's in the office or out on the field."
Throughout her career at Bowling Green, she's felt her confidence level grow as a leader and a teammate.
"As a person, I've just become more confident in myself; able to speak my mind, help others out when they don't feel comfortable in positions and be a leader," Erdman said.
Current captain and fourth-year senior, Taylor Green, has played all four years alongside Erdman. Since freshman year, their connection on and off the field has been special.
"Tiney is probably the most bubbly, outgoing person," said Green. "She's always positive, always making people smile, making people laugh. Even if she isn't getting in (to the game), she'll put in the work no matter what."
Her coach for three seasons, Fox agrees how impactful her infectious energy has been to the team.
"I think she's somebody who's a shining light every single day for the program, no matter what's going on in her life, anyone else's life," Fox said. "She's always the first person to highlight teammates and to raise energy. She's gonna be deeply missed."
As her final season in the Orange and Brown comes to a close, Green mentions herself as one who will miss her the most.
"I'm always gonna miss Tiney's energy. Like no matter what, when it would get quiet or silent at practice, she's the first person to yell and scream something that's just funny or makes everyone come alive again," Green said.
Erdman's hope reflects that, after the last whistle blows, she wishes to be remembered as the joy of BGSU women's soccer.
"I hope it's just, 'She was just always someone that was so positive, energetic, always picked people up, was always a hard worker,'" Erdman notes. "That's what I want my legacy to be."
