The opportunity to run up and down Old College Field sporting the Green and White has been a long time coming for Lauren Zacharski.
In between transferring schools after her sophomore year and a serious knee injury, the women's soccer senior forward had to put her college soccer career aside.
Zacharski originally played for Georgia during her first and second years of college. In 2001 at Georgia, she started nine games, played in all 20 games and ranked third for her team in scoring with five goals and two assists.
However, the southern life didn't personally suit Zacharski, so she headed back to her roots up north - Michigan.
"I transferred back, and I was looking for a school to go to," the Troy native said.
"All my friends played at Michigan State and loved it; they never had anything bad to say about the soccer program here and it is a good school, so I joined."
Once she started playing for MSU, she instantly felt comfortable with her teammates, many of whom she knew from playing in high school. Zacharski likes playing soccer in her home state because she is closer to family and friends.
She said her experiences at both schools have been very different.
"Obviously, I like MSU a lot better, the girls get along a lot better because we have team chemistry on and off the field," Zacharski said. "Everyone helps each other out."
Ready to begin a new phase at MSU, Zacharski was redshirted her first year due to transfer credits. Intending to play the following season, Zacharski went into the game and an athlete's worst nightmare happened.
"It was the first minute of the game when I went in, I can't recall what happened, but I just got taken out and (tore) my ACL," Zacharski said. "I was devastated because I really wanted to play."
So her love for playing the game was put on hold for yet another season, while she underwent surgery and intensive rehabilitation.
"I worked hard to get back," she said. "I am excited I don't have any problems with my knee. Watching the team play encouraged me to do better rehab and get back into the game."
When the season began for the Spartans, Zacharski knew this would be her time.
She came out strong scoring a goal in the first match of the season against Colorado College.
Every game, she can be found pushing the other team's defensive limits and doing her best to score.
She is one of the top players on the team in points, goals and assists. This season, she has scored two goals, one them being a game-winning goal.
Her story is one of triumph and overcoming technical and physical obstacles set in her way.
"I hadn't played in a game in two years," Zacharski said. "I just wanted to come out full force and play hard and help the team out. Any chance I get I am 100 percent."
