Brad Smith | isiphotos.com

A member of the 2008 Olympic Gold Medal Team, Lauren Cheney led the UCLA Bruins to four NCAA College Cups during her collegiate career.

As part of a series of interviews with potential 2010 WPS Draft picks, Women’s Professional Soccer caught-up with UCLA’s 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist, Lauren Cheney. She was first named to the alternate roster for those games, but was then moved up to 18-player-roster when Abby Wambach fell to injury. With extensive title match experience, competing also at the 2006 U-20 World Championships and 2005 Nordic Cup plus four straight College Cup with the Bruins, Cheney enlightened WPS as to what else she can look forward to in her soccer career.
 
WPS: What is your earliest soccer memory?

Cheney: My earliest soccer memory is playing for the Blue Hurricanes when I was five. We had so much fun and I met my best friends that I grew up with through high school.

WPS: When did you first realize you wanted to become a pro?

Cheney: I think that I have wanted to be a pro for as long as I can remember. I used to write "professional soccer player" whenever teachers in grade school would tell me to write down what I wanted to be when I grew up.

WPS: If there were one adjective to describe you, what would it be?

Cheney: Compassionate.

WPS: What is something besides soccer that you are good at?

Cheney: I am a really good shopper. All of my friends ask me to help them shop. So I would say that makes me pretty good at it!
 
WPS: What are your expectations for the 2010 WPS Draft? Some speculate, Tobin Heath may be headed to Atlanta and you to Boston as the number two pick. What are your thoughts on leaving LA?
 
Cheney: Honestly, I will be one hundred percent happy wherever I go. I just want to play. Of course I will miss LA and its perfect weather, but I am sure Boston or any other place will have a lot to offer on and off the field.
 
WPS: You are one of the most accomplished college players, with several caps at the full National Team level and an Olympic gold medal under your belt. Where do you go from here in your professional career?
 
Cheney: Playing with the National Team has thankfully been a huge building block in my professional career. Getting to play with the best players in the world for the past few years has taught me so much about soccer and life. I hope I continue to grow in the professional atmosphere.
 
WPS: Do you have any initial goals for the 2010 WPS season?
 
Cheney: My goal for the 2010 season is to focus on what I can control. I know the game of soccer whether I am playing college, internationally or professionally. Regardless of the circumstances, I just want to continue to love playing.
 
WPS: After viewing the 2009 WPS season, what players are you most excited to play with or against in 2010?
 
Cheney: Obviously I admire all of my teammates on the Women’s National Team and I am very excited to play with some of them on a day-to-day basis. Also, I think that Kelly Smith and Marta are two players that are unreal to me. I’m excited to learn from all of them.
 
WPS: Which players coming out of your college class do you think will have the most success at the professional level?
 
Cheney: I think my college class has so many players who will do well and I hope that all of them are successful. But, Tobin Heath and Casey Nogueira will definitely bring some flair.
 
WPS: With all your accomplishments thus far, what would you say ranks as your best soccer memory?
 
Cheney: My best soccer memory is definitely standing on the podium after we won the gold medal in 2008. I will never forget that moment or the journey that got us there.

The 2010 WPS Draft takes place on Friday, January 15 at the NSCAA Convention in Philadelphia.  Follow WPS’s Twitter, @womensprosoccer, for all of the latest draft news including full draft-day coverage.