Katie Taylor

Meet Virginia Tech freshman, Katie Taylor! Katie is a dedicated member of the Tech’s club soccer team, as well as a motivated business student. She manages a hectic schedule between difficult classes, as well as hours of on and off field practices each week. Although only a freshman, Katie has big plans for her future at VT, check her out!
 
Her Campus Virginia Tech:When did you decide you wanted to be involved with club soccer at Virginia Tech?
Katie Taylor: I actually didn’t decide if I was going to try out until the day before tryouts started. I was nervous about keeping up with the five days a week commitment, along with taking 17 credit hours in my first semester of college. I have always been very enthusiastic about the game of soccer and knew that somehow I would end up getting involved for Virginia Tech.
 
HCVT:What was the try-out process like? (Were people intimidating/nervous/how many people got cut?)
KT:I was scared out of my mind when the first day of tryouts came. The captains and coach seemed nice but there is always that feeling of being a freshman and having to prove yourself. For high school we did a lot of preseason workouts, so I got to know the girls pretty well, but the first day at Tech I had to work really hard to stand out.
 
HCVT:How long have you been playing soccer?
KT:I started playing soccer as soon as I was able to sign up! My dad had my name on the roster before I even knew what soccer was. I fell in love with the game and have been playing ever since.
 
HCVT:What position do you play now/how often do you play during games?
KT:I tried out as a midfielder/defender but the coach asked me if I’ve ever tried center back before and I tried it during practice one day and I just clicked really well with the other defenders. I start in games and usually play most, if not, the entire time. I recently tore a ligament in my right foot and had to rest the last game of the season before our regional tournament.
 
HCVT:Do you plan to continue playing with the team?
KT:YES! This team has helped me integrate into college life seamlessly! The upperclassmen give me rides and the team has socials with other club teams and I have met a lot of new people. I plan to play all four years at Tech and I know I’ll make a whole bunch of friends along the way.
 
HCVT: Does the team bond off the field?
KT:It sounds cliché but we are like one big family. We eat meals after practices together, most nights, and I hang out with my teammates outside of soccer almost every day. We also have socials with other clubs, which helps us bond. I really feel like the activities we participate in off the field contribute to the overall success of our team as a cohesive unit.
 
HCVT:How has the season been so far?
KT:The Virginia Tech women’s club soccer team has had a very impressive season. We had four wins and two ties in the regular season, as well as a second place finish in the Hokie Classic that helped us qualify for the Regional Tournament a week ago. We traveled to South Carolina and battled hard against the top teams. We won four straight games, and then unfortunately, lost in the championship, but we did play well enough to receive one of only three bids offered to teams in our Region. We are headed to Arizona on November 16 to take part in the National Tournament and will compete against the best club soccer teams in our nation!