In order to succeed every team needs those few players that have the great leadership skills to motivate their teammates and be role models on and off the field. The term “role model” happens to be an understatement to describe senior midfielder Lauren Moore.
Growing up right here in Tampa, the 5’9” fun loving athlete has been playing soccer for as long as she can remember. “I became interested in playing because all of my cousins played growing up, soccer has always played a huge role in my life,” Moore said.
While playing as a child she looked up to professional players such as Mia Hamm and the other star female athletes of the 90s. As a teenager, she challenged herself by joining her high school soccer team while attending Gaither High School and began playing for a club team. The sky was the limit for her success as she racked up 38 goals and 19 assists in her high school career, 12 of them during her senior year alone. Leading her team into the 2010 and 2011 regional finals, she was also chosen to play for an All-Star team for Hillsborough County as well as an All-State team, representing Western Florida. Also in 2010, Moore aided her team in advancing to the State Cup Final Four, defeating the number one team in the nation to advance to the State Cup Finals.
Being a primetime high school player and ACDC Champion, Moore then decided to continue her soccer career as a Spartan on the fields of UT. “I wanted to play for UT because it was close to home, a beautiful campus and my family could come and support me,” she said.
As a freshman, Moore quickly earned the respect of her coaches and teammates. Her immediate quick wit and diligence from day one helped lead her to the captain she became this season.
“Lauren brings a strong soccer IQ to the field. She understands the game very well and is an intelligent player. She is well respected by her teammates and our coaching staff both on and off the field. She possesses a balanced mind that allows her to bridge the gap between the players and coaches,” said women’s head soccer coach Gerry Lucey.
Moore dazzled under the lights of Pepin Stadium and across the east coast as she scored nine goals her freshman year and 18 goals her sophomore year, helping her team to the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) tournaments both years and coming out with wins for each. She also triumphantly won Offensive Player of the Year her sophomore year and received a Daktronics All-American, honors impressing her teammates, family and even herself.
Currently a senior, Moore has proved to be one of the top women’s soccer players to ever perform at the university. What’s the key to her success? Her teammates. “I consider myself to be very close with my teammates. We’re always together and always there for each other during the more challenging times. We can count on one another on and off the field and they have helped me grow each season,” Moore said.
Even her coach noticed the valuable relationship Moore developed with his other girls. “Lauren has earned the respect of her teammates over the past couple of years and this has allowed her to function in many capacities as a leader within the squad. A captain is an extension of the coaching staff and also a member of the team. Lauren’s maturity has helped mold her into the individual she is today,” Lucey said.
Moore’s encouragement and innervating attitude as a captain quickly captured the hearts of everyone on the team, especially the current freshmen who were thankful to have such a great senior role model to look up to. “Lauren is probably the best role model out of anyone on the team,” said freshman defender Madison Cox. “I appreciate her humility and personality the most. She is nice to everyone on the team and never belittles anyone for being a freshman or a non-starter. She has helped us stick together as a unit and cheers us up when we are down. She cares about what’s going on in our lives and isn’t just a ‘captain’.”
Although it is Moore’s final season playing for UT, her future success is boundless with all that she has accomplished so far. Right now she is in high hopes to continue playing after college. She is a public relations and marketing major and plans on working in the sports industry if playing professionally falls through. As of right now, Moore hopes to win the national championship and to continue having a successful season with the people she loves.
Regina Gonzalez can be reached at regina.gonzalez2@spartans.ut.edu