From 1980-1984 Illinois soccer player Vanessa DiBernardo’s father, Angelo, played on the former team of the Brazilian great Pele — the New York Cosmos of the NASL.

The one-time U.S. national team player is a part of U.S. soccer history. Still, he doesn’t bore her with stories.

“A little bit, probably a little bit less than people would expect, he’ll say them every now and then,” the Illini freshman said. “He’s had a really big impact on my soccer career and he’s just taught me practically everything I know.”

If she keeps playing like she has during the first few weeks of her college career, she may have her own stories to tell — or maybe not to tell — her own kids.

DiBernardo led off the Illini’s scoring Tuesday in a 3-1 Illini win over Wright State after notching a goal and an assist in the team’s first game of the season against Loyola-Chicago.

“There isn’t a ceiling for her right now,” Illini head coach Janet Rayfield said.

“Whatever level she decides to reach for, she’s going to be able to get there. It’s going to be fun to watch her go after those things over the next four years,” Rayfield added.

It’s not that Rayfield is surprised by DiBernardo’s success — she was named 2010 Illinois Gatorade High School Player of the Year and was a top recruit nationally — it’s how quickly the 5-foot-4, 100 pound midfielder has been able to acclimate to the college game.

“Vanessa is a special player and she has some natural instincts that allow her to step in and adjust to the way the game is played,” head coach Janet Rayfield said.

“She’s never had to deal with quite the pressure of the college game, but she deals with it instinctively really well so it allows her to continue to do what she’s done at a previous level at this level,” Rayfield added.

It’s also level-headedness that has set her apart from other freshman.

Did she feel pressure going into her first collegiate home game?

“Not really,” she said postgame.

What are her career goals as a soccer player?

“I haven’t really thought about it,” she said.

Still, if she wants to emulate her favorite player, 5-foot-7 Barcelona forward and Argentina native Lionel Messi, she knows she’ll have to improve the physical game.

“If there’s any limitations, it’s that she’s 5-foot-4 and maybe 100 pounds dripping wet,” Rayfield said.

Rayfield, though, doesn’t have any doubts she’ll be able to overcome that.

“She’s only going to get better,” Rayfield said. “She’ll continue to improve and she’ll continue to increase the things she can do at this level.”