Since she was five years old, Haley Murphy knew that soccer was something that she wanted to pursue in life. Murphy, now 18 and a senior at Fossil Ridge High School still has that passion for soccer. “It has taught me about team work and dedication, and how to work hard to achieve my goals,” Murphy said. She was offered a scholarship to play soccer at Iowa State University and she committed to it.  

Several of her teammates, including Lauren Roeling and Koree Willer, are also going to play soccer at Iowa State with Murphy. When asked if she knew that she would make it this far in sports when she first started playing, she stated, “I always hoped that I could and I knew that if I worked hard, I would have a chance to play but I never knew I would have the opportunity until it happened.”

Iowa State was not the only school that offered her a scholarship, as several other schools also presented her with a scholarship to play soccer. She ended up choosing Iowa State due to her friends committing, it is a friendly college town, and the overall feel of the school felt like the best fit.   

Murphy not only plays soccer but she is a dual athlete. She is a starter for varsity soccer and the girls varsity basketball team along with Willer and Roeling. Those three are a select few that can start in two different sports but Murphy’s true passion is in soccer. While she and her teammates are excited to be playing soccer in college, their focus is still on finishing their FRHS careers with a successful season. Some of their goals are to win conference and do well at State. Individually, Murphy’s goals for the rest of her soccer career include, “Having a really good end to my high school career and to eventually have a long successful career in college.”

Murphy wouldn’t have made it to where she is today without the guidance from her ever present, dad. “He always pushed me to try hard and to never give up. He was the person who I looked up to in soccer,” she said. Growing up in a competitive atmosphere may be the reason that through her 13 years of experience in soccer her favorite part to this day is the aggressiveness between players.  

While she is great at basketball, her love has always been with soccer. “I love basketball, and I always will. But there is something about soccer. The physicality, the team-work, battling the weather, and above all else I love being in a sport where everybody goes all-out to win.” Murphy remarked.     

Soccer has not only helped her physically but it has helped her in life. “I think sports can help teach you a lot in life,” Murphy  said, “It taught me about how to work on a team and how that in order to achieve your goals you have to work hard, harder then anybody else if you want to succeed.”