Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech women's soccer program is unveiling its 2020 signing class in a different way. Rather than announcing all of them and their accomplishments in one release, the Hokies will highlight each new signee individually, which includes a brief "Get to Know" Q&A, until all of the incoming freshmen are announced.
The fourth player (of 10) to be introduced from the 2020 class is Dori Haugen, a 5-foot-7 defender from Bristow, Virginia. She currently attends Patriot High School and is considering majoring in criminology when she arrives at Tech.
Haugen brings several years of national team experience with her to Blacksburg, as she has trained with both the U-16/17 and U-19 Norwegian National Teams in her career under coaches Borje Sorensen and Alexander Straus. She has been named the Player of the Match seven times with the national team.
Recently, Haugen helped Norway finish first in Group 5 at the U-19 UEFA Euros qualifying round and first overall, as the team scored 26 times and did not surrender a goal as Haugen played in all three matches, totaling 225 minutes of action. The Elite round draw will be held this Friday and starts the next phase of qualifying matches which will be held in March 2020, which Haugen anticipates to be playing in. The seven group winners will join hosts Georgia in the finals set for July 21 through Aug. 2.
Over the past six years, much of Haugen's soccer experience has been under coaches Christian Cziommer and Bobby Puppione with FC Virginia DA, as she has served as the team's captain. This current season, Haugen has scored a pair of goals and has five assists for the team, which, at one point, was the top-ranked team the country. Also, just a week ago (Nov. 19), Haugen was named to the 2019 United Soccer Coaches Youth All-East Region Team and a Youth All-American.
Following the 2018-19 USSDA season, Haugen was named a Best XI East Conference selection at defender while helping FC Virginia, ranked as high as No. 11, advance to the quarterfinals of the inaugural USSDA Girls National Championship playoffs. Haugan has also been a US Soccer training participant and was a US U-18 national team call-up in October, but could not attend due to the Euro qualifying.
"Victoria Haugen is a central defender/outside back – we've seen her play both those spots – who's gotten a lot of experience the last couple of years with the Norwegian National Team," Tech head coach Chugger Adair said. "She is somebody we expect to come in and compete for a starting spot at center back. She will be a tremendous addition to our group, to our backline, and to our team overall. She has a wonderful personality and is somebody who will be a great part of our culture moving forward."
GET TO KNOW - Dori
Name: Victoria Haugen
Position: Defender
Height: 5-foot-7
Hometown: Bristow, Virginia
High School: Patriot High School
Other Schools considered: Boston College, University of Tennessee, University of Georgia, Clemson University, University of South Carolina
Why did you choose Tech? I chose Tech because I loved the environment and the comradery of the school. It is a beautiful campus and the facilities are very nice. The athletics and academics are very good, the coaches are very fun, and the girls are super outgoing. It just felt like home.
What was your favorite thing about your visit? My favorite thing about my visit was getting to know the girls that I am going to spend the next four years with and the environment that surrounded me.
What do you like about the Tech soccer program? I like the coaches and the spirit/energy that the girls bring to the team.
What are your soccer strengths? My soccer strengths are speed, distribution, my soccer IQ and defending.
Who is your favorite pro player (why)? My favorite pro soccer player is (Eden) Hazard (a Belgian professional that plays for Real Madrid and the national team). He is a very good player who rarely ever gets the ball taken from him and never gives away the ball. He has a very good soccer IQ and is speedy and a very hard worker.
What is your most memorable soccer moment (why)? My most memorable moment in soccer is when I scored the game-winning goal in the Jefferson Cup (about six years ago). It made me realize the grit it takes to play the game and how much I love soccer. The feeling after, my teammates hugging me and my dad giving me the biggest hug after the game, all made me realize that this is what I want to do.
What do you think you will major in? I think I will major in something in the criminal world because it interests me and I have always loved hearing the news talk about criminal stories and I find it very interesting.
What's one thing you'd want Tech fans to know about you? I am 50% Norwegian.
Previous GET TO KNOWS
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Tori Powell