Jose Trujilo (@jAy_Ay_T):
Enshrined within its walls are names like Gary Payton, Clyde Drexler, Bill Walton and Dan Fouts.
As of Sep 19. 2017 San Jose State’s women’s soccer head coach Lauren Orlandos (Hanson) was added to that list. As a matter of fact, you can add the whole 2002 University of Portland Pilots women’s soccer team.
It’s The Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.
The team was inducted 15 years after finishing 20-4-2 and capturing the 2002 Women’s Division I Soccer Championship.
Not only was this the University of Portland’s first women’s soccer championship, but the school’s first title in any sport. It also marked the first time the state of Oregon claimed a collegiate championship for women’s soccer.
The erstwhile team captain feels humbled that these accomplishments led to the team’s induction.
“Honestly, I don’t really think too much of it, but looking back at it, it’s an achievement and I’m very honored to be in there with so many great players and coaches and personnel, it’s exciting,” Hanson said.
Former center midfielder and co-captain Erin Mosaki never thought their championship season would lead to such an honor.
“I don’t think any of us ever expected to be inducted in the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame … It was huge honor, it was a very exciting,” Mosaki said.
As a player, Hanson brought athleticism, leadership and accountability to the team.
“She [Hanson] was super athletic, she was always motivating and encouraging player, as a captain she really took on that role, and if player needed to be yelled at or encouraged, she was the person to do it.” Mosaki said.
Those team dynamics is what made the Pilots like a family, and that is one reason why Hanson chose to play soccer at the University of Portland in the first place.
“I went there because it was a family environment, and Clive Charles and the education, it’s a fantastic Catholic school, really small classrooms, great education,” Hanson said.
In 2015, the University of Portland total student enrollment was at 4,250.
Though the greatest motivating factor for Hanson choosing UP had to do with longtime women’s soccer coach Clive Charles.
From 1986 to 2003, Clive Charles was head coach for the Pilots and led them to 13 conference titles, 20 NCAA tournament berths and 7 NCAA Final Four appearances,and 1 national championship with a combined 439-144-44 record.
Charles tried to instill life lessons and values through soccer which made him an influential figure.
“I learned a lot of important life lessons, the biggest thing I learned from Clive was that integrity and character were more important than anything,” Mosaki said. “He was a man of his word, he worried more about teaching life lessons than winning soccer games, and that had a huge impact on me now that I coach kids.”
Hanson remembers his coaching style and what he valued in a team.
“He was a remarkable human being, he really believed in teaching life through soccer … to take care of the little things, to be very organized, to make sure the details are taken care of , to care for things given to you, and being on time,” Hanson said.
On top of playing for a legendary coach, Lauren Hanson has won a national championship, won a Mountains West championship and named conference Coach of the Year. She can now add Oregon Sports Hall of Fame inductee to her long list of accomplishments.