AYW Spotlight | Lauren Spencer

RICHMOND, VA (January 5, 2017) – The ECNL and the Amazing Young Women movement is dedicated to showcasing females that have helped shape the league into the top female youth soccer development platform in the world.  As part of the movement, the ECNL is encouraging amazing young women to share their stories.  We are excited to announce Lauren Spencer as the ECNL Amazing Young Woman Spotlight of the Week. Spencer is a sophomore goalkeeper and is pursuing a degree in Marine Biology at the Hawaii Pacific University (HPU) and is a Michigan Hawks ECNL Alum.

Spencer is a native of Oxford, Michigan where she played for the Michigan Hawks ECNL team her final two seasons of her youth soccer career.  She immediately settled in with the Hawks and became involved in both coaching and mentoring younger players within the community. Inspired by the mentors she had growing up, she felt the need to give back and empower the next generation of young women with the “pay it forward” mentality.

“I want to give the youth in my area an outlet and sounding board to reach out to for help along the journey of life.” said Spencer, “I want them to know that they are not alone, and that I am here to listen, help share my experiences, and help them reach their dreams.  I want to instill confidence in others and continue to give back to my community, especially for young women.”

Last summer, Spencer had the opportunity to coach at a soccer camp she grew up attending called On Goal Soccer (On Goal).  On Goal is a Christian soccer ministry focused on developing the total player. With On Goal, she traveled around the United States setting up camps in communities where they would teach soccer skills, teamwork and ministry. Spencer makes it a point to volunteer as much as possible, as she truly believes in the positive message spread through giving. She volunteers to feed the homeless any chance she can, always looking to lend a helping hand whether it is on or off the soccer field.

Spencer continues her involvement as both a coach and mentor at HPU. Her favorite event is HPU’s Women’s in Sports Day where they bring young girls on campus from the within the community, focusing on those families that have little opportunity to do so on their own. They partner with fellow women’s sports teams and encourage the girls to be empowered by sport, spreading the message that sports can provide opportunities to them.

The power of self confidence in women, and believing in “Girl Power” is what Spencer lives and breathes. In her two years with the Hawks, Spencer made back to back appearances in the ECNL National Championship Game. After finishing second in 2014, they came back to win the U18 ECNL National Championship the following year. She credits the loss endured the previous year as motivation to bring her team closer together, and the drive needed to achieve the ultimate goal of becoming ECNL National Champions.

“It was unbelievable to battle with my teammates, my sisters, and earn a spot in back-to-back seasons,” Spencer said about playing in two ECNL National Championships, “I feel blessed to have been a part of an outstanding group of players and coaches, who truly believe that anything is possible.  The two years spent as a Hawk are etched in my memory, and helped shape the person I am today.  It drives me to keep following my dreams, and to help others along the way.”

Spencer credits the ECNL with providing her with a platform to showcase her soccer ability and to pursue her dream of becoming a marine biologist. She found HPU through the recruiting process and received both athletic and academic scholarships after working hard on the pitch and in the classroom.

“She has a great family and I know community service is a very important part of their lives. As it translates into the team, Lauren was a very, very unselfish player throughout both runs [to the ECNL National Championships]. She always put what was best for the team in front of her own goals, and helped out with other teams when we needed her,  She was a joy to work with on the field.” Doug Landefeld, Director of Coaching for Michigan Hawks said about her time with the Hawks.

We wish Lauren Spencer the best of luck with the rest of her collegiate soccer career and in her quest to become a marine biologist. Thank you for being an Amazing Young Woman and blazing the trail for others.

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About Amazing Young Women^TM:  Launched by the ECNL, the Amazing Young Women is a dynamic platform of online and local market activations that showcase and celebrate female role models offering an aspirational focus for all female athletes and teens as they prepare to be our next generation of leaders.  The ECNL is calling on all of the nation’s women to join the movement to celebrate the endless potential of today’s girls.

Women of all ages can share their personal moments of inspiration through social media and at www.AmazingYoungWomen.com.  Every share and submission helps drive a movement that celebrates the power of what it is to be a girl today.

Amazing Young Women of the ECNL will be showcased at AmazingYoungWomen.com. Through testimonials, tips and tools, the website is providing all girls to view, share, and celebrate what it is to be motivated, strong, and successful.

About Elite Clubs National League:  The Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) was founded in 2009 to enhance the developmental experience of female youth soccer players in the United States through: (i) improving the competitive environment through creation of a true national competitive league; (ii) improving the process for identifying elite female soccer players for college and youth national teams through a systematic scouting and identification program based on national competitions; and (iii) improving the daily training environment at top female youth soccer clubs through developing best practices and training and organizational guidelines for its member clubs.  The ECNL is sanctioned by US Club Soccer and is sponsored by Nike Soccer.

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