As the UW men’s soccer team nears the close of the season and the NCAA tournament, senior starter Aaron Lauber’s career is reaching its pinnacle.
The 6-foot forward came into the 2001 season as a first-time starter, and brings onto the field his hard-working ethics, perseverance, maturity and mental strategy.
While not always a starter for the team, Lauber has always been considered one of the most devoted players, fitting into the required roles and taking his walk-on position and turning it into a scholarship through his practice and game performances.
“He came here as a walk-on, didn’t expect to play soccer and rather quickly progressed into earning a starting role and being one of the primary players on our team,” teammate Dominic DaPra said. “His work ethic is obviously the best on the team.”
Lauber stands as an icon of sorts for the soccer program, not only by displaying the utmost amount of effort in each game and practice, but also by imparting the maturity he’s gained on and off the field throughout the years to the younger players.
“He’s a bright guy.” DaPra said. “He has a lot of experiences that people can draw from. In that way he can lead. He lets the younger guys know what it takes to get better and what it takes to go out and win in this conference and in the region.”
Lauber has taken a major leading role this year, starting most games and playing the full time, where in years past he may have come off the bench for 10 minutes to revive the game or make a change. The starting position hasn’t gone to Lauber’s head, though, unless you count the knowledge he gains by starting and playing those extra minutes.
“[Starting] means a lot [to me]. This is the role I’ve been working to play ever since I got here,” Lauber said. “Coming in you always want to start and I’m playing quite a bit this year. In the last couple of years I played more of a spark off the bench. I played a lot differently ? this year I’ve had to adjust and use more strategy, save some energy at times.”
The transition Lauber has made from a walk-on to a starter and as a surprise team-member to a key leader on the team has put him on the map in Big Ten soccer, earning him respect for his capabilities. Coaches and teammates recognize his attitude, intelligence and overall great personality as the basis for his success.
“He’s a mature person,” Banda said. “And talk about a hard worker. I’ve never seen a guy work harder. He’s heart and soul, what you’re looking for ? someone to use as an example of coming from nowhere and earning big time minutes in the Big Ten.”
Hard work and dedication seem to be working for Lauber as he ranks second on the team in goals (six) and in shot percentage (.171). He has earned the starting position and the label as one of the most improved players on the team, who happens to play a lot and be a team role model.
“He’s one guy we’re going to remember,” Banda said. “He’s going to leave a legacy behind ? we’ll remember a guy who moved in and when he left he left something behind.”
Lauber will continue as a leader on the team in the up-coming Northern Illinois and Michigan State games on Friday and Sunday, but he and the team remain focused on making it in the Big Ten Conference by obtaining their long-term goal of having a spot in the NCAA tournament. The tournament is to be hosted at home, in Madison, from Nov. 8-11 and would be the perfect culmination of a long, hard season for the UW men’s soccer team.
For now, the team is looking to play Big Ten competitive soccer and find a way out of their recent streak of losses, while keeping an eye on the NCAA prize.