SLIPPERY ROCK — Julia Hart never had trouble budgeting her time.

So now she's ramping it up a notch.

A senior soccer goaltender and softball first baseman at Slippery Rock High School, Hart has decided to play both sports at Geneva College.

“I'm just not ready to give either one of them up,” Hart said.

Undecided on a major, Hart also considered two other Presidents' Athletic Conference schools — Grove City College and Bethany — before deciding on Geneva. She would have played both sports at either institution.

“The way she balanced academics, her social life and sports in high school, along with volunteering hours to different organizations, I know she can do this,” Slippery Rock girls soccer coach Sarah (Cessar) Vermilya said.

Vermilya should know.

She did it herself.

A Slippery Rock graduate, Vermilya played basketball her freshman year at Grove City College before eventually settling into soccer and women's track and field.

“Taking a season off between sports is definitely the way to go,” Vermilya said of Hart not doing a winter sport.

“She told me she had a lot of fun doing all her sports in college and is confident I have what it takes to do it, too,” Hart said.

Among Hart's volunteer activities are National Honor Society projects, which includes making blankets and bringing them to the veterans home in Butler. She also works with youth soccer.

Hart was a three-year starter at goaltender for the Rockets. She played third base in softball before eventually shifting over to first base.

Rockets softball coach Dan Hindman believes the latter position is her best.

“Julia is a taller girl and she has good control with the glove,” Hindman said. “She picked up our infield pretty well.

“I'm impressed she's taking on both sports. It will be a challenge. College is a different world from high school. It's good they have coaches (at Geneva) willing to work with each other and let her do that.”

Linda Sumner has been women's soccer coach at Geneva for 13 years. She set the program scoring record with 66 career goals as a player there and has an 89-129-12 record as the Golden Tornadoes' coach.

Geneva was 8-9 last fall and had only four seniors on the roster.

“There aren't many goalies on the roster, so I feel like I have a shot to play right away,” Hart said.

Vermilya agrees.

“I thought Julia was the best goalkeeper in our region last year,” the Slippery Rock coach said. “That's definitely her position.”

Van Zanic has been Geneva softball coach for 18 years. He is 426-311 overall — winningest softball coach in school history — and has guided his team to the postseason 13 times.

The Golden Tornadoes were 19-19 last year and got off to a 3-5 start this season before the NCAA canceled all of spring sports for 2020.

“I'll play anywhere besides pitcher and catcher, whatever gets me on the field,” Hart said. “I know they have a lot of girls coming back, but the coaches told me if I work hard enough, I can get in the lineup.”

Hindman said Hart would have been a big part of the Slippery Rock lineup this spring.

“This definitely would have been her best year at the plate,” he said. “Julia would have hit third or fourth in our order.

“She can play a number of positions. I know she's played outfield with her travel team and has done a good job there.”

Hart played three years of travel ball with ROC Elite and planned to play for the Pittsburgh Predators this summer, should they have a season.

Her collegiate athletic goals are modest.

“I just want to play as well as I can and help my teams have winning seasons. That would be pretty cool,” Hart said.