University of New Hampshire Athletics
Catching Up with the 'Cats: Caroline Murray
8/21/2018 9:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer, Athletics Development
Caroline Murray looks back at her time at UNH and discusses her pro soccer career.
Caroline Murray played in Sweden this season as she continued her climb through the professional soccer ranks in Europe. After wrapping up her UNH soccer career with the 2015 season, Murray spent a season in Finland and another in Iceland before moving on to Sweden.
Murray arrived in Durham as a transfer from Ohio State for the 2014 season, which was also the first year for head coach Steve Welham. The two helped the Wildcats to the program's first America East Tournament title and NCAA berth that season. Murray's grit, drive and fitness were among the attributes that made her a prime candidate for a professional career, Welham said.
We caught up with Caroline as part of our series: Catching Up with the 'Cats.
How has your professional career advanced so far?
I've been trying to take the next step and play in harder leagues each season and that's been the case so far. I've really enjoyed every league and country I've played in so far. I was playing at a higher level and in a good league in Sweden this year and they have two women's professional leagues there and I'd love to eventually try to play in the highest level there. My agent has definitely helped me find some good opportunities.
What's been the biggest change from college to professional soccer?
Most of the players are very technical and comfortable with the ball. I think the biggest difference has been how tactically smart the players are. That's probably the thing I've been able to improve the most about my game, my tactical ability. I've had to think so much more. It's a big adjustment. The teams spend so much time on defensive shape, there are tactics on when to pressure, when to sit. It's such a big focus over there. It's been a good thing to add to my game and it's been real good for me.
What's the best part of your game?
I think my greatest asset is my speed, especially playing out wide. That's definitely a big part of my game.
How did UNH help prepare you for professional soccer?
I think UNH prepared me really well for a soccer career. The environment helped me believe in myself, that I could achieve my goal, which was to play after college. The team and the coaches gave me confidence I could achieve what had been my goal my whole life.
What's your best athletics memory from UNH?
Junior year when we won the America East Tournament. The best part was when we came back in the semifinal game at UMBC. That was a real important moment for us. The season had been up and down for us and we had evolved as a team and by the end it was great to see how far we had come as a team. To be able to come back like that (with a late goal to tie and then a win on penalty kicks), we knew we'd be able to win the finals. We knew it wasn't a team that was going to give up.
What's your best UNH memory away from athletics?
I was a psychology major and I really liked all my psychology classes. I'd eventually like to possibly go into sports psychology. I used that at UNH and it was a game-changer for me on and off the field. Coach Welham was very focused on the importance of your mental wellness off the field and I was a big fan of that.
In a soccer-related memory, I used to play soccer all the time on campus with other students. I'd do it for hours a day, especially in the offseason. We'd have big pickup games. I'd do it in all my free time. If you won, you got to stay on the field. I was real smart about the teams I would pick. My teammates always joked with me that they always knew where I was. I was always playing soccer.
Have you had a chance to explore much in the countries where you've played?
You actually have a lot of free time. Every team I've been on has trained in the late afternoon and you have the days to do whatever you want. In Iceland I had a car with a few other Americans and we'd go all over the place. On most teams you get a bike and you can bike around wherever. Iceland has some amazing glaciers and waterfalls I'd never seen before and the geysers are really cool.
What's your immediate goal with soccer and what would you like to be doing in five years?
I would love to go back to Sweden, that's my goal. For five years, I would love to keep playing as long as I can and keep working my way up the ladder and see how far I can get. So far I've really enjoyed it and I hope to keep loving what I'm doing. I would love to eventually have the chance to play in the United States. I'll keep trying and see how high I can get and see what happens. I don't think I would have ever expected I would have played in three countries since college, I've definitely been real lucky with that.
What's the best piece of advice you've received from a coach?
Coach Welham always used to tell me not to sweat the small stuff. I still think about that all the time. I was someone who always worried about things. I try to relax and enjoy it. I keep reminding myself of it. I've definitely gotten much better with it. I'm so grateful for everything UNH has done for me. Coach Welham was one of the first coaches who helped me believe I could keep playing after college.
Allen Lessels
@UNHInsider
Allen.Lessels@unh.edu
Murray arrived in Durham as a transfer from Ohio State for the 2014 season, which was also the first year for head coach Steve Welham. The two helped the Wildcats to the program's first America East Tournament title and NCAA berth that season. Murray's grit, drive and fitness were among the attributes that made her a prime candidate for a professional career, Welham said.
We caught up with Caroline as part of our series: Catching Up with the 'Cats.
How has your professional career advanced so far?
I've been trying to take the next step and play in harder leagues each season and that's been the case so far. I've really enjoyed every league and country I've played in so far. I was playing at a higher level and in a good league in Sweden this year and they have two women's professional leagues there and I'd love to eventually try to play in the highest level there. My agent has definitely helped me find some good opportunities.
What's been the biggest change from college to professional soccer?
Most of the players are very technical and comfortable with the ball. I think the biggest difference has been how tactically smart the players are. That's probably the thing I've been able to improve the most about my game, my tactical ability. I've had to think so much more. It's a big adjustment. The teams spend so much time on defensive shape, there are tactics on when to pressure, when to sit. It's such a big focus over there. It's been a good thing to add to my game and it's been real good for me.
What's the best part of your game?
I think my greatest asset is my speed, especially playing out wide. That's definitely a big part of my game.
How did UNH help prepare you for professional soccer?
I think UNH prepared me really well for a soccer career. The environment helped me believe in myself, that I could achieve my goal, which was to play after college. The team and the coaches gave me confidence I could achieve what had been my goal my whole life.
What's your best athletics memory from UNH?
Junior year when we won the America East Tournament. The best part was when we came back in the semifinal game at UMBC. That was a real important moment for us. The season had been up and down for us and we had evolved as a team and by the end it was great to see how far we had come as a team. To be able to come back like that (with a late goal to tie and then a win on penalty kicks), we knew we'd be able to win the finals. We knew it wasn't a team that was going to give up.
What's your best UNH memory away from athletics?
I was a psychology major and I really liked all my psychology classes. I'd eventually like to possibly go into sports psychology. I used that at UNH and it was a game-changer for me on and off the field. Coach Welham was very focused on the importance of your mental wellness off the field and I was a big fan of that.
In a soccer-related memory, I used to play soccer all the time on campus with other students. I'd do it for hours a day, especially in the offseason. We'd have big pickup games. I'd do it in all my free time. If you won, you got to stay on the field. I was real smart about the teams I would pick. My teammates always joked with me that they always knew where I was. I was always playing soccer.
Have you had a chance to explore much in the countries where you've played?
You actually have a lot of free time. Every team I've been on has trained in the late afternoon and you have the days to do whatever you want. In Iceland I had a car with a few other Americans and we'd go all over the place. On most teams you get a bike and you can bike around wherever. Iceland has some amazing glaciers and waterfalls I'd never seen before and the geysers are really cool.
What's your immediate goal with soccer and what would you like to be doing in five years?
I would love to go back to Sweden, that's my goal. For five years, I would love to keep playing as long as I can and keep working my way up the ladder and see how far I can get. So far I've really enjoyed it and I hope to keep loving what I'm doing. I would love to eventually have the chance to play in the United States. I'll keep trying and see how high I can get and see what happens. I don't think I would have ever expected I would have played in three countries since college, I've definitely been real lucky with that.
What's the best piece of advice you've received from a coach?
Coach Welham always used to tell me not to sweat the small stuff. I still think about that all the time. I was someone who always worried about things. I try to relax and enjoy it. I keep reminding myself of it. I've definitely gotten much better with it. I'm so grateful for everything UNH has done for me. Coach Welham was one of the first coaches who helped me believe I could keep playing after college.
Allen Lessels
@UNHInsider
Allen.Lessels@unh.edu
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