Swarthmore women’s soccer forward Lauren Lior ’27 hails from Fairfield, CT, and is a graduate of Greens Farms Academy. During her first year with the Garnet, she had a stellar season, breaking into the starting lineup, and cementing herself as an integral part of the team. In her first year, she was awarded All-Cennennial First-Team (2023) and appeared in all eighteen games, including seventeen starts. Additionally, Lior ranked in the Centennial Conference Top-10 in points (goals plus assists), and finished second on the teams in points.
Following her initial season, in 2024, she saw action in two games and missed the majority of the season with a season-ending ACL injury. Although the injury was a difficult setback for the speedy forward, her recovery was nothing short of a show of diligence and perseverance. Day by day, Lior went through the process of rehabilitation with a positive spirit, and came back to play in her junior year. She cemented her spot once again, and scored her first goal post-ACL surgery against McDaniel College. Lior also provided the Garnet with a late game assist to beat Washington and Lee University, ranked No.13 at the time. Lior is planning on an exciting rest of her season and is an amazing example of overcoming athletic and mental hardships.
Katie Kerman: Congratulations on your first goal of the season versus McDaniel College! How does it feel to be playing again this season, following your ACL injury last year?
Lauren Lior: I was super excited to play again since my injury last September. It was extremely difficult transitioning back into playing on a full field mentally and physically.
KK: Looking back at the games the team has played so far, which one has been the most fun and exciting to play in? Are you particularly looking forward to any to come?
LL: Washington and Lee because I had an assist to the goal in the last five minutes of the game.
KK: It takes years of dedication, discipline, winning, and losing to come to the success you and the women’s team has had at the start of this season. Who has been an athletic or personal inspiration to you?
LL: Coach Andrew Henry of Connecticut, who trains me over school breaks and was my high school and club coach growing up. He has been my coach since third grade and believed in me when no one else did.
KK: What are some personal goals for the rest of the season?
LL: I really want to be more disciplined with my physical therapy in order to get stronger and healthier.
KK: Do you have a prospective major, if so what is it and how did you stumble upon that field of study?
LL: Architecture and environmental studies. I went to many Frank Lloyd Wright homes like Taliesin West, and am super fascinated with Frank Lloyd Wright’s work.
KK: Are you looking forward to any courses you might take during your next semesters at Swarthmore?
LL: I’m studying abroad in Kyoto, Japan next semester. Kyoto sketchbook is a course I am hoping to take in Japan, where we will sketch different temples and shrines found across Kyoto. It will culminate with creating a portfolio at the end of the semester to showcase my work.
KK: What is your favorite pre-game tradition you have?
LL: A cup of Coca-Cola in the dining hall.
KK: Do you have a favorite book, movie, or TV show?
LL: “The Lost Boys” is my favorite movie. I watch it every year for Halloween.
KK: Do you have any fall break plans that you are looking forward to?
LL: LINVILLAAAAA. I also want to take a tour of Eastern State Penitentiary, where they turn it into a Halloween haunted house during this season.
