It was 2011, and the U.S. Women’s National Team faced a 2-1 deficit against Brazil in the World Cup quarterfinals. Nine-year-old Lauren Donovan watched in awe as Abby Wambach made history. Little did she know, she would later follow in Wambach’s footsteps in college.
Former U.S. forward Megan Rapinoe passed the ball to Wambach, who scored a goal in the 122nd minute to tie the match and force a shootout, where the U.S. claimed victory.
“I remember watching that game specifically,” Donovan said. “It was my mom and dad's anniversary, we were actually in New Smyrna Beach. And I remember watching that exact goal and [Wambach] talking about it to this day.”
Today, Donovan wears the same Gators logo on her uniform that the two-time Olympic Gold medalist did. As a senior midfielder for the UF soccer team, Donovan has become a key player for Florida, embodying Wambach’s legacy as a Gator that she has always admired.
While every athlete grows up idolizing a pro, it was different for Donovan. She never thought she would represent the same team that Wambach once did. But now, she is proud to carry the same legacy that Wambach left behind.
“Surreal is the best word to even say,” Donavan said. “To watch someone ever since I was a little girl, and to try to fill her shoes into this program, it's so cool. I talk about this all the time that it's not just Abby. It's all the Olympians that come through Florida.”
Wambach has not only inspired a generation of players at UF, but she has also left her mark on how the game is played. Donovan attributes a large part of how she sees and approaches the game to Wambach.
“I find Abby Wambach a lot similar to my play, maybe not position, but using our head a lot,” Donovan said. “And just growing up like her, Alex Morgan, that group of national team players are who I grew up watching literally every game.”
Wambach’s and Donovan’s styles of play bear a noticeable resemblance, as both players can deliver in high-stakes moments and leave a lasting impact on the field.
Wambach helped lead Florida to a national championship victory in 1998, but she continues to offer support to her alma mater. Donovan described how Wambach has taken the time to meet with the Gators to offer advice and support.
“Just being able to talk to her, ask her questions and be totally vulnerable with her, and her being vulnerable back to us,” Donovan said. “I would say we all agree she's close to our program.” As a transfer student-athlete from Minnesota, Donovan has not exactly had the most traditional path to landing at UF. After two seasons up North, she took a chance on herself for what could lie ahead.
Both of Donovan’s parents earned their master’s degrees from Florida and are lifelong Gator fans. The family’s connection to Florida’s soccer program runs so deep that they even named their mixed Australian Shepherd after Wambach.
Lauren’s father, Dan, recognized the impact that Wambach and women’s soccer had on his daughter. Dan believed that naming their dog after the all-time great was a fitting tribute to how much Wambach meant to Lauren.
“The thing that always stood out, that I always liked, was how fearless and gritty she was and that aerial presence that Abby has,” he said.
Donovan has the unwavering support of her family. Dan and his wife Laura attend every single one of Lauren’s games, similarly to Wambach’s parents during her time at Florida.
Dan has established himself as the “flag guy” for the Gators’ home games, meaning he’s tasked with bringing infectious spirit to the stands at Donald R. Dizney Stadium by waving a flag and rallying UF fans together.
“I've had [the flag] since I was in grad school here,” Dan said. “I'm like, ‘You know what? I'm pulling that flag out. I'm taking that everywhere we go’… Then I figured out a way to start sneaking the flag into the complex so that I could run around with it.”
As Donovan continues her college soccer career, she will seek to carry on the legacy of past Gator Greats, hoping to etch her own name into UF history.
With hopes of playing professionally, Donovan will continue to draw inspiration from Wambach, her parents, and of course her iconic dog, Abby, by her side.
“She [Donovan] embodies a student, person, player, at a high level,” UF head coach Samantha Bohon said. “It's exciting when you see players like that have some success.”
Donovan’s inspiration from Wambach has translated into valuable production for the Gators this season.
She helped Florida secure its first win of SEC play against a top 25-ranked team since 2019. Donovan scored two goals in UF’s match against No. 22 Texas, marking the first multi-goal match of her college career.
“What an experience, especially having it be here at Florida,” Donavan said. “My two first collegiate goals, two in the same game. It was a full circle moment of, ‘This was the reason I was supposed to be here.’”
Contact Amanda Roman at aroman@alligator.org. Follow her on X @mandy_romannn.
Amanda Roman is a sophomore sports journalism major and The Alligator's Fall 2024 Soccer Reporter. She interned for Fort Lauderdale United FC this past summer as the team's journalist. In her free time, she enjoys lifting, shopping and reading.
