Hayley Nolan, right, looks to break free during a London City Lionesses match. (James Chance/Getty Images)
Editor's note: This story appears in the January-February 2021 issue of New England Soccer Journal. Subscribe here for insider access.
Growing up in Ireland, Hayley Nolan set out to become a professional soccer player. There was no thought of taking the collegiate route, but that was before a 15-year-old Nolan arrived in the United States with an all-star team to compete in the renowned Dallas Cup.
“I thought we would have some fun, get some sun,” Nolan recalled. “And, all of a sudden, all these college coaches were coming up to me and asking if I thought about playing [collegiately]. I had no idea what this was.
