Introducing U: Lauren Markwith
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Of the nearly 20 Americans on the University of Miami soccer team, freshman midfielder Lauren Markwith comes from the furthest away, hailing from Huntington Beach, Calif.
Markwith recently made the coast-to-coast flight to begin her time as a Hurricane, and Wednesday she spoke with HurricaneSports.com to detail how Miami has been thus far, among other topics . . .
Q: You’ve been here for a week and a half. What has it been like for you?
A: It’s been really different from California, but I like it and I’m getting adjusted to the weather and the school. The girls [on the team] have been awesome. I can’t wait for the season to start.
Q: So, you said you’re taking a couple classes. Anything that you’ve found interesting?
A: I’m taking public speaking for my second one and I really didn’t have a fear of public speaking. I think it’s really fascinating. I never knew that it could be a class. That’s what I kind of want to do, so I really like it . . . My professors are really nice and they make it interesting.
Q: There aren’t that many upperclassmen here right now, but is there anyone you’ve spent some time around who has shown you the ropes so far, even if it’s someone from when you’ve come on your visits previously?
A: Definitely Gracie [Lachowecki], Dani [Danielle Savage] and even Ronnie [Johnson]. She’s not her, but I’ve been texting her. Gracie comes out and runs with us every morning. So, she tells us what to expect [and also] not to worry, because as freshmen you’re all stressed about the fitness test and strength training. She’s like, “You can do it.” And then Dani invites us to go hang out outside of school, too. So, it’s like you get both aspects and they’re both just really welcoming and really nice.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about your time at Miami?
A: I’m excited for when the season starts and we start playing. I came to the Notre Dame game last year when [the Hurricanes] won in overtime and they all ran on the field and dogpiled each other. And, so, I can’t wait for that whole atmosphere.
Q: What made you, looking back on it, decide to come all the way across the country and attend Miami?
A: Ultimately, I loved coach [Mary-Frances] Monroe. She was really nice, and it’s beautiful here. The campus, I feel like it looks kind of like a hotel resort, like by the lake. It’s a really competitive conference, the ACC, so you play all the best teams. It was just like a win-win sort of thing, I guess. And I kind of wanted to go away from home.
Q: For people who haven’t seen you play, how would you describe your game?
A: I’m very smart. I might not be the fastest one, but I’m really good passing and I’ve been told I can see things on the field that other people can’t. I play center mid, so I’m a distributor. I’m attacking .I guess that’s why my style of play is.
Q: Are there any players you kind of try to model your game after or whom you compare yourself to?
A: Well, I wouldn’t compare myself, but obviously I watch [Lionel] Messi and [Cesc] Fàbregas. They’re super fast-paced and they dribble as well as pass. They’re not selfish. They want the whole team to succeed. So, that’s how I try to base my playing.
Q: How much have you and the other freshmen been spending time together?
A: [Laughter] Every day. We’re with each other like 24 hours a day except for when we have classes, but we’ll wake up together, ride our bikes here, train, then ride our bikes back. Then, we’ll all go to one dorm and hang out. We’re with each other all the time. So, it’s nice. Even though we’ve only been with each other for like a week, since we’ve been waiting to come here and talking, it feels like we’ve known each other for years. So, that’s good.
For more information on the University of Miami soccer team, follow @CanesFutbol.
