Laura Munnelly (2023) - CU Athletic Hall of Fame - University of Colorado Athletics

Laura Munnelly

Induction:
2023
Class:
2007

A four-year letterwinner (2003-06) on the soccer team under head coach Bill Hempen, Laura Munnelly made a significant impact in the program during her time as one of the top defenders in the Big 12 Conference … She played a pivotal role and had an immeasurable impact in the Buffaloes making four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, as other than goalies, she led the team in minutes played all four seasons and started all 91 games … Colorado was 56-24-11 overall during her career (25-11-4 in conference play), and was the regular season Big 12 champion her freshman year (2003), second her junior season (2005), third as a sophomore (2004) and fifth as a senior (2006) … CU was 4-4 in NCAA tournament games, as she helped CU to its first-ever appearance in the tournament, its first-ever win and its first advancement into the Sweet 16 … She played the “center back” position, one that often is unrecognized due to the limited statistics for defenders (one goal and seven assists for her career); however, her exceptional defensive skills and leadership on the field were instrumental in the team's success during her career … She consistently played the most minutes as a field player, and holds the top two single season minutes played records, as well as the most single season games started … Her reliability and consistency were essential to the team's success, and her dedication to the sport was evident in her unwavering commitment to her team (she played an astonishing 8,430 minutes in her career) … Her skills did not go unnoticed by the Big 12 conference, as she was named All-Big 12 four times (first-team as sophomore, second-team the other three seasons) … Other top honors as a freshman in 2003 including being named to the Big 12’s All-Newcomer Team, as the NSCAA Central Region Freshman of the Year and to Soccer Buzz’ Freshman All-Central Region team and also the organization’s regional co-Freshman of the Year … The NSCAA also recognized her as a third-team All-Central Region pick as sophomore and a second-team selection her junior and senior years … In addition, Soccer Buzz named her first-team All-Central Region as a sophomore and senior (second-team as a junior) … A preseason All-Big 12 team member as a sophomore and junior … She graduated with a bachelor’s in English in 2007, and after CU, she taught rock climbing for six years at the Boulder Rock Club before returning to CU to earn her teaching certificate; she has been teaching English since 2018 at Erie High School … She was born April 18, 1985 in Wheat Ridge, Colo.; her older sister, Fran, also was a star in the soccer program and was inducted into CU’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016.