LSU sophomore midfielder Debbie Hahn is used to winning.
Hahn won five state championships in high school-one for every season during her prep career at Fivay High School in Port Richey, Florida, including the eighth grade. The winning streak didn’t change for Hahn in her freshman year at Florida State University, where she appeared in 11 soccer games for the national champion Seminoles.
However, Hahn saw a better opportunity in Baton Rouge on the LSU soccer team and made the city her new home in 2015. A player would usually have to sit out a season after transferring, but Hahn was eligible right away because of a lack of playing time during her freshman year.
“I just wanted a better opportunity to get more minutes and see the field more,” Hahn said.
Hahn made the most of the opportunity, becoming a key player for the Tigers in her first year with the program. She’s started all 15 games this season and is the third-leading goal scorer on the team behind sophomore forward Jorian Baucom and junior forward Summer Clarke.
On the field, Hahn stood out right away, and the Tigers benefited from her play from the beginning. However, it’s never easy being on a new team, attending a new school and living in a completely different state.
“At first, she was shy in social aspects, but on the field she got to work right away,” Clarke said. “From the first day of preseason, you could tell she was going to be a big part of the team.”
Clarke and other team members helped Hahn transition to her new team, her new school and her new home.
“At first it was difficult being new, making friends and all the typical stuff you go through when you’re new,” Hahn said. “The team has introduced me to people and showed me around. They made it a lot easier.”
Much like she’s acclimated to Baton Rouge off the field, Hahn also adapted to a new position on the field and looks more comfortable as time goes on. After playing forward throughout high school and at Florida State, Hahn played center midfield for LSU throughout her first season with the team.
She showed a playmaking ability at her new position, hustling back on defense and creating space for her teammates on the attacking side of the field.
Hahn’s hard work culminated in LSU’s last win against the University of Missouri when she scored the go-ahead goal, giving the Tigers a 2-1 victory and a critical three points in the Southeastern Conference standings.
LSU failed to win its three previous games and was on a 217-minute goal-scoring drought. To make matters worse, LSU was without a suspended Baucom due to an excess of yellow cards.
Hahn stepped up in Baucom’s absence and scored arguably the biggest goal of the season for LSU.
“She’s been phenomenal,” Baucom said. “She had to adjust to a new position on this team, and she’s done really well. She’s been taking direction from everyone, both players and coaches, and she’s done a really nice job.”
Hahn left a comfortable environment in Tallahassee, Florida, to become a key player for LSU in its quest for its first postseason appearance since 2011. She said she envisions her winning ways to continue throughout her LSU career.
“When everyone puts their mind to it, there’s no limit,” Hahn said. “I think we’re all championship caliber players. The coaches show all the confidence in the world in me, which is all I’ve ever wanted, and it’s been a dream come true. I’m really happy I transferred.”