Assistant coach Lauren Pien began work with Bates women's soccer immediately upon her hiring in March 2021, making the most of the past year's unusual circumstances in developing relationships with the team. Like other fall varsity teams at Bates, women's soccer had the unusual opportunity to hold spring practices, thanks to calendar adjustments prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Those practices provided an opportunity for Pien and the team to get better acquainted.
"Lauren made an immediate impact with the team this spring as she was able to make the last few weeks of practices that we had at Bates," said Vari. "It was a hectic time for her to learn a new location and a lot of new masked faces, and she handled all of the transition well. Our players responded well to her coaching points, and it was a great starting point for us to prepare for the fall."
Pien came to Bates from her previous position as men's and women's assistant coach at Merritt College in Oakland, Calif., while also simultaneously serving as head coach for U17, U9 and U8 girls club teams with Livermore Fusion FC and as boys and girls varsity soccer coach at Moreau Catholic High School in Hayward, Calif.
Coach Pien is a 2016 graduate of the University of Rochester, where she earned two bachelor's degrees, in computer science and digital media studies, while playing varsity soccer. She was named to the UAA All-Academic team and earned Dean's List honors at Rochester.
"Lauren stood out from a highly talented applicant pool in our interview process," said Vari. "Her ability to connect with our players, her soccer knowledge, and her passion for the game was clear from the beginning. She is going to be a great addition to the staff and will help us develop our young team."
