Before becoming a stand-out player on the soccer pitch, junior midfielder Lucy Porter grew up playing tennis, ranking as high as 15th nationally in her home country of England. However, there was always something missing in tennis for Porter: a team.
“I love how [soccer] is a team game. I used to play a lot of tennis and it’s quite lonely out on the court by yourself,” Porter said.
Despite her success as a two-sport athlete, Porter left the court to dedicate her time to the pitch.
“[Tennis was] quite intense. You’re training every day and you’ve got weekend tournaments. [Soccer] was the better option for me,” she said.
Signing with Aston Villa Women Football Club at a young age, the midfielder had her first international call-up at 13, where she played for national youth teams in various matches and tournaments before coming to Hofstra.
Upon arriving in the U.S., the difference in play between British football and American soccer came as a surprise to her.
“First season over here [was] a bit of a shock. You’re [thinking], ‘Oh my gosh, these players are so big and athletic,’” she said. “They might not be as technical as the players I played against at home, but they make up for it in their athletic presence. So it’s a bit of a transition.”
However, it didn’t take long for her to adapt, earning a place on the 2017 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) All-Rookie Team and the 2018 United Soccer Coaches Association All-East Region First Team during her freshman and sophomore seasons, respectively.
This year, Porter earned the title of CAA Midfielder of the Year and led the Pride to a third CAA championship title in three years on Saturday, Nov. 9.
Porter already has 16 goals and 40 points to her name this season as Hofstra now looks ahead to the NCAA tournament. Two of those goals came in the CAA championship match against James Madison University, where the Pride won 5-1.
Her 40 points break the Hofstra program record for points in a single season, while her 16 goals tie for third-most in program history in one season.
Her total of 31 goals with the Pride in three years also puts her at fifth all-time in goals scored for Hofstra, with her senior season still left to play.
However, despite her individual success as a player, she always puts the team first.
“It’s lovely to get an award, but the main focus of mine [was] getting the ring on Saturday. [The awards] are kind of a side thing, but I obviously do appreciate them,” Porter said.
The Brit has proven to be a leader in her three years on the team, but still considers herself an equal.
“I like being a leader. I’ve had great captains at Hofstra before I became one, so I’ve had good role models of what to be like. You’ve got to set an example for the rest of the players,” Porter said. “It’s exciting [being a captain], but I just like being a part of the team.”
Her team-first mentality is evident in the friendships she’s created with her teammates both on and off the pitch.
“Here [unlike tennis], you’ve got ten [other] people on the field going through the same thing as you. You’ve got people who can pick you back up and [you can] talk to. It’s a great support network,” she said.
While balancing a sport and school can be difficult for any student-athlete, Porter says she’s never not in the mood to play.
“Some days it’s rough if you’ve got a big exam and you’re [thinking], ‘I just need to study,’ but I’ve got to come to practice,” Porter said. “It is a great stress relief. It takes your mind off everything.”
“I never don’t like it. Once I’m here and I’m playing, I love it.”
While most of her time is spent playing soccer or supporting Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. (her family’s favorite British football club), off the field Porter is studying for her health science degree and is considering going to nursing school one day.
“You’ve got to be very time-efficient and manage your time and plan things out in advance. It keeps me on my toes. It makes me feel like I’ve always got something to do,” Porter said on the challenge of being a student-athlete.
Away from school and soccer, Porter’s passions include socializing with friends and traveling, mentioning a backpacking trip she previously took across Europe.
While her tennis career didn’t last long, she credits the sport with teaching her important life skills that have translated into soccer, such as conditioning her to train hard and understanding that athletic success requires sacrifice in other aspects of life.
With the NCAA tournament on the horizon and her senior season still left to play, Porter will contribute in whatever way she can, always putting the team first in hopes of securing a fourth CAA championship next year and marking her place in the Hofstra women’s soccer history books.
This article appeared in the Nov. 12, 2019 publication of The Hofstra Chronicle.
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