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Lauren Treinen Makes Waves on the Women’s Soccer Team

They call it the beautiful game. Combining sheer athleticism, strategic intelligence, and poetic grace, soccer attracts players and enthusiasts of all ages worldwide. One such devotee is Seaver College senior Lauren Treinen, defensive midfielder on the No. 20 Pepperdine women’s soccer team.

Treinen first hit the soccer field at age 5. The Northridge, California, native played on American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) and Club teams throughout her youth, and for Chaminade High School in Woodland Hills. She initially chose Boston University for collegiate play, but quickly discovered that the program was not the right match for her.

After careful consideration, Treinen decided to transfer to Pepperdine following the first semester in her freshman year. She knew the Pepperdine coaches and that she “would enjoy soccer more here.” Indeed she has. As a junior, Treinen helped lead her team to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Championships, one of the best finishes ever for the Pepperdine team.

This year, her goals for the team include winning the West Coast Conference (WCC) and making it to the NCAA tournament—hopefully to the Elite 8. “We want to go further than ever before, and I think it could happen. We have a really talented team this year.”

And a remarkably close one. Treinen observes that her love of the sport ultimately comes down to her relationship with teammates. “We’re such a close knit group of girls here, and that’s what I was missing in Boston. Being part of a great team and wanting to work hard for your teammates—that’s probably my favorite thing about soccer.”

Treinen admits that much of that camaraderie develops from the extensive amount of time the team spends together. “We practice or compete everyday,” she comments. “We practice in the morning and afternoons in the off-season, and travel every other weekend for games during the season.”

Faced with such a demanding time commitment, Treinen works hard to make time for a full academic course load as well. The psychology major, minoring in industrial organizational psychology (essentially the study of how people interact in the workplace), has immersed herself in challenging classes this semester, including cognitive psychology, family therapy, counseling theory and technique, industrial organizational psychology, and organizational behavior. With hopes to become a counselor one day, Treinen is debating whether to pursue graduate school or employment opportunities after graduation.

For now, Treinen says, “I just really want to have a great senior year and an all-around great season.” When she graduates from Pepperdine, she’ll take fantastic memories with her: celebrating the team’s hard-fought victory against rival Santa Clara last year; seeing her parents, John and Lilly, and sister, Stephanie, cheer her on at games; hanging out with friends in Malibu.

She’ll also take with her a resounding love of that beautiful game. Notes Treinen: “I’ve been playing soccer my whole life. I have a standard for myself that I have to reach. It has become a part of who I am to try to achieve what I’m capable of. I’ll always keep playing.”

Check out the women’s soccer team schedule here to see Treinen and her teammates in action.

By Megan Huard