BREAKING IN: Lauren Lazo, center, goes after the ball during her career with the Princeton University women’s soccer. Lazo, a four-time All-Ivy League performer for the Tigers who graduated last month, is currently playing professionally for the Boston Breakers of the National Women’s Soccer League.
(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

After completing a stellar career for the Princeton University women’s soccer team last November, Lauren Lazo was hoping to get chosen in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) college draft.

Lazo was passed over in the draft this past January, but a rival put in a good word for her, helping to get her a chance to show her skills to the Boston Breakers of the NWSL.

“The Harvard coach, Ray Leone, said something to the Breakers coach and they invited me to their training camp,” said Lazo, a four-time All-Ivy League performer for the Tigers.

“It was amazing. I thought why not, it was the opportunity of a lifetime. I came and played pretty well, I was so grateful.”

Lazo later competed with the Breakers during their preseason training but suffered a quad injury and returned to Princeton to finish up her senior year and rehab, figuring that she wouldn’t be training with the Breakers again until after graduation in June.

However, when a defender was injured, Lazo got an early call-up in May and ended up finding herself in the starting lineup.

“Maddy Evans got hurt and they called me back in May, they wanted me to be around the team,” said Lazo, a 5’9 native of Scottsdale, Ariz.

“I thought I was just going there to train, but after the second practice they told me they wanted me to start and they signed me. I was absolutely shocked. I hadn’t played in eight weeks. I had played right back a few times but it wasn’t my natural position.”

On May 16, Lazo was thrown into the fray, making her pro debut in a 1-0 win over Portland.

“I was coming off an injury, I was in a new position, I was playing my first game,” said Lazo, who played all over the field during her Princeton career, seeing time at midfield and at forward in addition to defense, tallying 28 goals and 26 assists in her Tiger career.

“I was so nervous the first 45 minutes. Coming from the Ivy League, in every dimension, the game is better. There are no weak players, the game is faster, you have to get the ball off your foot faster. What helped is the team around me, the center back next to me was helpful, she showed confidence. I was propelled by nerves, adrenaline, fear, all of those emotions.”

Lazo’s experience at Princeton helped sharpen her focus on the field. “I think Princeton taught me to manage my time, prioritize, and be invested in what you are doing at the moment,” said Lazo.

“It is easy to get distracted so when I was at practice, I focused on being the best player I could be. Also because there is change every year, you hone skills of playing with new players and knowing what your strengths are.”

While the Tigers didn’t have the strongest year in Lazo’s final campaign, going 7-6-1 overall and 3-3-1 Ivy, she views the 2014 season fondly.

“We didn’t have the season we wanted but in my four years I had never been on a team that was more cohesive,” said Lazo, who had eight goals and 10 assists last fall, the latter number being the second highest single-season assist total in program history.

“The freshmen came in and played so well. We had a big class with nine and  we didn’t have the greatest freshman year so collectively we wanted to make it easier for this year’s freshmen. Sometimes people get wrapped up in stats. It is not about stats, it is going out and enjoying the game and playing more comfortably. I had a decent year, fine enough to get a chance to play pro but I didn’t do as well as I had hoped.”

Now Lazo is relishing the life of playing professionally. “We train almost every single day, we have one day off a week and one game a week,” said Lazo, who moved up to Boston the day after Princeton’s commencement.

“We are doing something from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. everyday. It is actually a dream come true, being paid to play a sport. Even if the pay isn’t so great, I am doing something I love every day. I am young; I would like to do this for a while. If I am on the field, I am happy.”

With nearly two months of NWSL experience under her belt, Lazo is looking to make a bigger contribution on the field for the Breakers.

“Having played a few games, I definitely feel I can hold my own and contribute,” said Lazo, who has now made five appearances for the Breakers with four starts.

“I am a more attacking player; it is hard to play in formation. I am learning to do that and I think I can go up and down the wing.”