After attending an all-girls school, women’s soccer senior Miri Taylor, a native of Gillingham, England, traveled to Long Island to attend Hofstra University.
“Playing in England compared to here is the physicality and fast-paced,” Taylor said. “It’s a big switch of play. The girls are tall, the switching of the ball, and the ability to get it up and down the field traditionally and strategically. In England, they like to possess the ball a bit more and is more technical.”
She’s accomplished considerably more than simply holding her position throughout the years. Taylor has been an All-CAA performer in every season at Hofstra. She was also named the 2021 CAA Preseason Attacking Player of the Year and named All-America First Team, MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist and All-East Region First Team, not to mention being the No. 7 ranked player in the nation.
Despite the amount of credit she receives, she never forgets to acknowledge the importance of her teammates to her success.
“Being nationally ranked – as a team, we wanted to be in the top 15-20, and we managed to do that and even made it to 10,” Taylor said. “We set goals and achieved them. The team did so well, and I did even better for myself. Everyone fought their hardest.” Taylor also mentioned making it to the NCAA tournament was her main goal for this season. The team made it to the second round.
From freshman year until now, Taylor feels her game has developed tremendously. As a freshman, the coach tried fitting her in various positions at the start of her career to gain more versatility. She says it was essential to get many open assists, which increased over time.
“It was a big change and big challenge having to adapt to this style of play,” Taylor said. “I believe I did myself proud.”
After Hofstra, Taylor’s ultimate goal was to enter the National Women’s Soccer League Draft (NWSL). With Taylor scoring 42 points this season, the Hofstra single-season program record, being second in the country averaging 2.14 points per game and finishing her senior year with 17 goals and 11 assists, it was no surprise Angel City FC drafted her in the fourth round. Taylor’s selection comes as Hofstra’s fourth professional draft pick in program history and second this season, as teammate Lucy Shepherd was also drafted.
In addition to her single season point total, Taylor became Hofstra’s all-time assists leader earlier this season, increasing her career total to 31. Taylor finished her senior season with 97 points and 33 goals, ranking fourth and sixth in program history, respectively. As a result, Miri Taylor has had a lasting impact on the women’s soccer program and Hofstra University.
Photo courtesy of Evan Bernstein/The Hofstra Chronicle
