That’s because she is unfamiliar with the concept of losing — winning four state championships at Unity Christian High School in Hudsonville, Mich., two national championships with her club team, the Bloomfield Force, and being a vital member of the Women’s National Pool Team.

Success has followed her everywhere. She was named two-time Michigan Miss Soccer and two-time Gatorade Player of the Year — becoming the only player in state history to win each award twice.

“Nothing’s ever changed with the way I prepare for a game,” Heyboer said. “Every time, I just want to come out and play my absolute best. I want to be happy out there whether I score or not. I will continue to make personal goals for myself as each season goes on.”

And if her team records don’t speak volumes by themselves (107-1-1 at Unity Christian), then maybe her record-breaking individual statistics will — posting 290 career points, including 167 goals and 123 assists.

“The last two state championship games — in Laura’s junior and senior years — went to overtime and she ended up scoring both golden goals to win those games,” Unity Christian girls’ soccer head coach Randy Heethuis said. “You can’t script a high school career any better than that … she’s just too impressive.”

Now, Heyboer, a kinesiology major, brings her blend of rapid scoring and passing to the Spartans — a team that struggled last season, finishing 7-10-2 and 1-8-1 in the Big Ten.

“She will be the difference maker for this team,” MSU women’s soccer head coach Tom Saxton said. “She has some special qualities and you’ll see her make an impact immediately. We’re certainly delighted to have her and she’s a very good kid.”

And that’s exactly how her teammates have perceived her since day one of preseason camp — hard working and modest, always keeping the conversation off herself and toward others and the team in general.

“She has an open mind about taking advice from people and she’s adapting very well and very quickly,” senior midfielder and forward Kristi Timar said, “Her work ethic is really, really good.”

Even early on, since coaching Heyboer in her freshman year of high school, Heethuis said there are two positive attributes about her that completely separate her from the rest of the field.

“She anticipates and can see things two or three passes down the road that many other athletes don’t see — she sees the field better than anyone I’ve ever coached, creating opportunities both for herself and her teammates,” Heethuis said.

“But more importantly, she is extremely humble. As a freshman, she went about her business letting the upperclassmen lead. But by the time she hit her junior and senior years, she became one of the best leaders we’ve ever had.”

Considering all the success throughout her career and her being heavily recruited by various colleges for years, it raises a question: Why attend MSU?

“It came down to where I felt more at home and I felt like this was a family here,” Heyboer said. “I just felt like it was a perfect fit — with my soccer needs and my academics coming first for me, I knew MSU could fulfill what I wanted.”

So far, Heyboer has scored three goals and tallied one assist — in one game.

“I knew right away she would gel with the team,” said Kelsey Tait, a redshirt sophomore midfielder who has been Heyboer’s mentor since her arrival in East Lansing. “I didn’t want her to be timid or afraid and to show her skills — I told her to show her talent and everyone’s definitely seen it so far.”