No Durango High School girls soccer player had signed with a college since Brooke Milliet committed to Fort Lewis College in 2012. Her sister changed that Wednesday.
Lauren Milliet, a senior at DHS and daughter of Charlie and Janis Milliet, signed a National Letter of Intent to play women’s college soccer at Division I Colorado College in Colorado Springs. Milliet was the lone athlete in La Plata County to make her commitment official on National Signing Day.
“My sister gave me advice to go somewhere where I can truly enjoy myself and where I will love my experience no matter what,” Lauren Milliet said during a signing ceremony at DHS on Wednesday. “The coaches and players are both so involved in your life. She said the next four years is where I’ll make friends for the rest of my life and to enjoy the experience while it lasts.
“I visited Colorado College and absolutely loved it and committed in January of my junior year.”
Durango Youth Soccer Association Director Kate Stahlin and DHS head coach Dalon Parker said Lauren Milliet is the first Division I signee they have had come through DHS and DYSA.
“I don’t think a player has ever signed Division I that I can recall,” Stahlin said. “She’s our first Divison I recruit, and it’s a testament to Lauren and her family’s commitment.”
Along with being a four-year varsity player, Lauren Milliet also played club soccer in Albuquerque to gain exposure. Stahlin called her a committed individual.
“She’s a great example of ‘work on your own,’ and where it can take you. I always feel like we have good instructors, but really, for Lauren, the extra time she’s committed individually to get her where she is now has been the difference. Going the extra mile.”
Lauren Milliet burst onto the high school soccer scene as a freshman with six goals and four assists, finishing third on the team in total points.
When Parker took over the Demons’ varsity team, he immediately noticed the ability and attitude that made her a standout player.
“She is a tremendous player. I’ve said she will make a good coach one day. She sees everything, understands it, works hard at it and just has this passion for the game you don’t find everywhere,” Parker said.
“She is a firecracker, and her skill is tremendous with both feet. She’s a great passer, she can finish and she’s willing to get in there and scrap, too, which is a lot of the girls’ game. She’ll bring that battle, fight and will to want to be the best all the time to Colorado College.”
Lauren Milliet had limited her choices to Colorado College and the Tigers’ arch rival Denver University. Her visit to Colorado Springs made picking the Tigers easy, and she can’t wait for the rivalry games against the Pioneers.
“It’s really cool because everyone always shows up for the big rivalry games, and I have a bunch of friends that actually play on DU. It will be really fun to go and play them,” she said.
Now that she has signed, Lauren Milliet is excited to enter her senior season with the burden of picking a college lifted. Though she said she dreams of playing in a state championship game, she is keeping this season’s goals a bit lighter.
“I think it would be great for me to have fun and pursue something that is not as crazy, hectic and demanding on me and just play for my senior year and play for my school,” she said. “I want to represent Durango for the last time. When I get to Colorado College, I’ll be representing them, so to represent my hometown one last year is a big deal to me.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
