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Ask A Ute - Lauren Hair
10/5/2010 12:00 AM | Soccer
Oct. 5, 2010
"Ask A Ute" is a new weekly feature on UtahUtes.com that will enable Ute fans to interact directly with their favorite student-athletes from several different sports at the U. Stay tuned to UtahUtes.com every week to check out the new feature and find out how you can participate in "Ask A Ute".
This week's featured student-athlete is senior forward Lauren Hair, from the soccer team. Lauren leads the team with three goals this year, including the game-winning strike on the road at Air Force.
From Susan in Elgin, Ill.:
My daughter is quicker 1-v-1 than many of her opponents, so she gets fouled from behind a lot and it's not always called. How can she defend herself from those fouls?
"I think being a quick 1-v-1 dribbler is one of the greatest qualities a player can have, but it definitely does come with the baggage of gettting kicked a lot. The best advice I can give here is to work on getting the foul called everytime, or avoiding the foul by playing the ball quicker once you get past the defender. I have always been taught that one of the most important things when beating a defender is to get your body right in front of theirs. Girls often do all of the work to beat a player but stay to far to the side so when they get kicked the foul isn't called. If you beat a defender and place your body clearly in front of theirs it makes it easy for the ref to call a foul and give you a free kick. Drawing a foul and playing a set piece can be a great way for a team to get an attack going, and oftentimes even a goal!!"
From Mackenzie in Salt Lake City
How did you get the nickname LaLa?
"I have had it my whole life. My Aunt gave it to me when I was born. Nicknames are huge in my extended family so it just kind of stuck, so now I go by LaLa for just about everything."
From Heather in Sandy, Utah
Are you superstitious? Do you have any pregame rituals you always go through?
"I am actually a very superstitious person, and have a lot of weird things I like to do before games. I always put my right sock, shin guard and cleat on before the left, I knock on the ground three times before the game starts, and I pray with two of my teammates before all of our games."
From Kelly in Ogden, Utah
What is your favorite thing to do off the field?
"I love being with my family. My family is super close and always has something going on. We play a lot of card and board games (which often end early because of our competitive nature!), we go to RSL games, and eat a lot of great food."
From Bill in Pocatello, Idaho
If you could play any sport professionally other than soccer, what would it be and why?
"I have always loved gymnastics, so I think I would want to do that. My dad taught me how to do flips when I was younger and I love being in the air doing cool things. I get jealous of all the amazing things our gymnasts can do here at Utah, so I would want to do something like that."
Next week's featured student-athlete for Ask A Ute will be Alyssa Abbott of the Cross Country team. Send your questions for Alyssa between now and Sunday, Oct. 10, to askaute@gmail.com.
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ SoccerCrimson Corner with Bill Riley - Urban Meyer
Wednesday, September 17
Utah Soccer's Grace Watkins - ESPN+ Feature
Sunday, September 14
Utah Soccer's Devi Dudley - ESPN+ Feature
Thursday, September 11
Utah Soccer's Ava Hetzel - ESPN+ Feature
Monday, September 08