@fullname - @sport - University of North Carolina Athletics

Taylor Otto, Emily Fox, Natalie Chandler, Miah Araba, Laura Sparling

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

Taylor OttoUniversity of North Carolina Women's Soccer v TexasFinley South FieldsChapel Hill, NCWednesday, August 22, 2018

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

Taylor Otto

Position:
Forward
Height:
5-10
Class:
Redshirt Sophomore
Hometown:
Apex, N.C.
High School:
Middle Creek

Dorrance on Taylor: “Taylor Otto is one of the greatest leaders I’ve ever coached. She has a field leadership voice that is unique because everyone responds to it. She’s a cerebral player. She knows the game. She knows how the game should be played at the highest level. She was a part of the U23 National pool this past spring. Her best qualities are her composure, her skill set and her decision making.”

Redshirt Senior Year (Fall 2020): No. 11 Overall Pick in the NWSL Draft (Racing Louisville) • Third Team All-ACC selection • Started all 12 games of the season • played a total of 772 minutes • scored one goal against Louisville • logged an assist in the final minutes against Florida State in the ACC Tournament • recorded five shots throughout the fall

Redshirt Junior (2019): Third Team All-ACC selection • honored as one of the 2019 Hermann Trophy Watch List members • named to the Top Drawer Soccer preseason upperclassman list (No. 40) • named to the Top Drawer Soccer preseason upperclassman list (No. 40) • checked in at the No. 64 spot in Top Drawer Soccer’s midseason upperclassmen list • started in 21 of 23 matches • recorded one goal, three assists and five points during her redshirt junior campaign • put five shots on goal during 2019 • Tar Heels outscored opponents 54-9 in games she participated in • scored her lone goal of the season at Pittsburgh on Oct. 13 • recorded 86 minutes in the national championship game against Stanford • recorded two assists in last three games of the NCAA tournament (Southern California and Washington State).
Participates in the Richard A. Baddour Carolina Leadership Academy as part of the Activate Program.

Redshirt Sophomore Year (2018): Elected team tri-captain of 2018 team • United Soccer Coaches third-team All-America selection • ranked as #55 player in country by Top Drawer Soccer on its postseason Top 100 list • first-team All-ACC selection and member of ACC All-Tournament Team • also named first-team United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region • starter at center forward for UNC in first seven games and then began starting at center midfield role in the final 20 games where she thrived according to coach Dorrance • named ACC Defensive Player of the Week after Tar Heels won 1-0 at #2 FSU in regular season • tied for third on team in scoring with 16 points and tied for fourth in goals scored with five • ranked third on the team in assists with six • played 2,053 minutes in 27 games, including season-high 103 minutes against UCLA • her 2,053 minutes played were the fourth highest total on the team behind three of the starting defenders (Julia Ashley, Brooke Bingham and Lotte Wubben-Moy) • scored the game-tying goal against Texas in the 53rd minute in a 1-1 tie • scored the game-winning goal in 16th minute in 1-0 win over #23 UCF • earned another game-winning goal when she scored on a rebound in the 86th minute to lift the Tar Heels past Notre Dame 2-1 • assisted on Bridgette Andrzejewski’s insurance goal in 2-0 win over Ohio State • assisted on Rachel Jones’ game-winning goal against Florida State in 29th minute • had a pair of goals and an assist in 5-1 win over Louisville • assisted on two goals in 7-1 victory at Syracuse • assisted on Madison Schultz’s game-winning goal against Wake Forest.

Redshirt Freshman Year (2017): Starting center back for the Tar Heels • she also saw action at the forward spot early in the season • named to third-team All-ACC squad • tapped for first-team Top Drawer Soccer Freshman Best XI • named to United Soccer Coaches All-East Region second team • played in all 22 games for Carolina, starting 19 times and ranking third on the team in minutes played with 1,932, which ranked second amongst field players • had a hat trick in the 4-2 win at South Florida, the first by a Tar Heel since Crystal Dunn had one against Miami in 2013 • scored game-winning goal in 2-1 in over Florida State in ACC Tournament quarterfinals • had four goals on just six shots • converted all three of her penalty kick chances • assisted on goals in 5-0 win over Auburn and in 7-0 win over Syracuse • was fifth on team in goals scored with four and fifth on squad in points with 10 • named ACC Defensive Player of the Week on September 26 after Carolina posted wins over Clemson and Virginia • played the full time in 16 of the 22 games she saw action in, including 13 of last 17 games of the season • named to 2017-18 ACC Academic Honor Roll • won most improved award in 2017-18 in strength and conditioning area for women’s soccer team.

Freshman Year (2016): Took a redshirt year while competing with U.S. U20 National Team at World Cup in Papua, New Guinea.

High School: Graduated in 2016 from Middle Creek High School in Apex, N.C. • did not play high school soccer.

Club: A veteran of CASL ECNL program • NSCAA All-America selection three times (2013, 2014 and 2015) • participated on U.S. youth national teams at U14, U15, U17, U19 and U20 levels • member of U17 World Cup qualifying team • member of U20 World Cup qualifying team • team captain of CASL ECNL from 2012-14.

Personal: Full name is Taylor Marie Otto • daughter of Chris and Melissa Otto • stands 5-10 • was born in October 1997 in Cleveland, Ohio • has one brother, Nate, age 23 • her mother played volleyball at Central Michigan University • exercise and sport science major.