SoccerWire is publishing Q&A articles with recently-committed players who have Featured Profiles in the SoccerWire Recruiting Directory. The series allows players to share their stories on the college recruiting process, travel and high school soccer, and their passion for the beautiful game.
In this edition we will showcase Lauren Malsom, who has verbally committed to play NCAA Division I soccer in 2025 at North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Malsom plays travel soccer in the ECNL for Concorde Fire Platinum, one of the top programs in the country. She recently re-classified from the Class of 2026 to the Class of 2025 in order to begin her college career with UNC a year earlier.
SoccerWire: What made you decide to verbally commit to North Carolina?
Lauren Malsom: The University of North Carolina (UNC) has been a dream school for me since lower school. Coach Anson Dorrance has built a fantastic legacy and tradition that has transformed women’s soccer, and I have always wanted to be a part of it. However, it is not just Coach Anson Dorrance but the entire coaching staff at North Carolina is completely immersed in women’s soccer and understands how to advance players to the next level and what areas of the game to take advantage of. I was drawn to North Carolina’s playing style and ability to keep possession of the ball in the defensive and midfield third but also harness the capability and skill to take risks in the final/attacking third to score. When losing the ball, the team is quick to transition and press to win the ball back, which can slow the game back down again in possession.
Growing up, I watched players like Tobin Heath, Crystal Dunn, and Alessia Russo and heard of girls like Heather O’Reilly and Mia Hamm, who came out of UNC with a very positive experience and had incredible, prosperous careers. When choosing a college, I knew I needed to be pushed to become the best version of myself, on and off the field, and I could envision that at UNC. Whether that be by myself, my coaches, my teammates, or just naturally due to the environment that UNC brings – which is competitive, motivating, diligent, and hungry while also being supportive and caring. The next step in a player’s soccer career after college is to go pro, and the UNC women’s program has done an amazing job putting girls in the NWSL and WSL. It shows me Coach Anson Dorrance and Coach Damon Nahas’s professional connections.
It wasn’t just the soccer aspect of UNC that made me commit; it was also the beautiful scenery Chapel Hill brings and the school spirit. The campus is under a constant, overwhelming crowd of people wearing UNC blue, which I loved because they made it known they were proud of their school. The University of North Carolina is a top school academically, and I knew that continuing my academics there would challenge me in a good way too.
SW: What was the recruitment process like for you? What did you learn about yourself while going through it?
LM: I have an excellent relationship with my club coach, who helped me tremendously early on by connecting with the top schools I wanted to contact. Even though coaches can only reply to you on June 15, every ECNL showcase, I would send emails of my game schedule to all the college head coaches and assistant coaches so they could see it. I also went to ID Camps that colleges put on to see how practices and drills were run, talk to the coach in person, and check out the campus life. By the time June 15 came around, I understood and realized what colleges I liked and what coaching style I preferred. Around my sophomore year, I began reclassing with my school, and I have now noticed the importance of being involved with your school and keeping good relationships.
SW: What has your experience been like playing for Concorde Fire?
LM: Two years ago, I joined the Concorde Fire family, and my experience has been nothing but great. I met my favorite coach, joined a welcoming, close-knit team, and was a part of a loving community. In these two years, I have grown as a player tremendously on the field, as well as off the field. I have developed my skills by zoning in on my technique and working on being very consistent with finishing the ball. Concorde gave me opportunity to step in as a leader for my team, and I have felt all the support from teammates.
SW: What’s your earliest soccer memory?
LM: One of my earliest soccer memories is when I was around 4 years old and played for Little Hatters at Tophat. I was trying out for the academy team, and I vividly remember my mom dropping me off. I nervously walked across the field and joined a line with other girls my age. The moment I learned that I made the top team after my mom received a call, I was thrilled! I had no idea that the team girls and I would become such great friends for so many years.
SW: What’s the best piece of advice that you have ever received from a coach?
LM: Two things:
Never be satisfied with where you are. This mindset inspires me to constantly set new goals and strive for continuous improvement.
However, enjoy being in the process of becoming.
I’ve learned to appreciate the small victories and celebrate every step of progress. Enjoy the journey of getting to where you want to be because this is where you learn everything. Be in the present and take in the moments when things align. Embracing the journey towards achieving my goals has taught me valuable lessons and shaped me into who I am today. In these moments of growth and setbacks, I find genuine fulfillment, and the journey will make reaching your dreams all the more rewarding.
SW: Outside of soccer, what clubs, organizations, and/or jobs are you involved with and what do you think you would like to study in college?
LM: Outside of soccer, I am active in my schools Baby Sitting Bears, and Trees Atlanta, I volunteer for the Food Bank, and walk for the March of Dimes, donate to CHOA and Mercy Care. In college, I am interested in a business degree in marketing, because setting up my social media, and understanding how to market myself as well as brands is very important for a player’s career.
SW: What are your favorite pair of soccer cleats that you have ever worn?
LM: My favorite soccer cleat is the Mercurial Superfly, but specifically the Zoom Mercurial Superfly 9 Elite FG ‘Blast Pack’
SW: If you could give one piece of advice to a younger player who wants to play forward what would it be?
LM: Remember to stay focused on your attacking runs and always be on the lookout for scoring opportunities. Be consistent inside the 18-yard box because more than 80% of goals come from inside. Do not be afraid to take players on 1v1 and risk it because you are in the final 3rd and have a whole midfield and backline behind you. By staying confident and composed in the final third, you can create more scoring chances for yourself and your teammates. Don’t hesitate to take that shot or make that crucial pass. Keep pushing and believing in your abilities, and success will follow!
SW: Is there anyone that you would like to give a shout out to for helping you in your soccer career or in the classroom?
LM: Immediately, I think of Coach Garvin [Quamina]. Coach Garvin has been significant in my growth, both as a player and as an individual. His unwavering belief in me, commitment to my development, and ability to bring out the best in me have significantly impacted my journey. When I joined the team, he saw potential in me that I didn’t recognize in myself. He dedicates countless hours to analyzing training film and finding ways to help me improve. Under his guidance, I have enhanced my technical skills, gained a deeper understanding of the game, and learned invaluable life lessons about perseverance, teamwork, and resilience. Coach Garvin demands excellence and pushes us to our limits, yet he always ensures we know he has our backs. His contagious passion for the game has become my own. Off the field, he’s always available for advice, whether it’s about soccer, school, or life in general. Coach Garvin has taught me to never settle for anything less than my best, and I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have him as my coach.
