Laura Sparling

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

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

Position:
Midfielder
Height:
5-5
Class:
Freshman
Hometown:
Chapel Hill, N.C.
High School:
Carrboro

Dorrance on Laura: “Laura Sparling had a fabulous spring. Her qualities are speed, quickness and fitness. Her improvement in the spring will put her in a fantastic position to compete for the travel roster this fall.”

Senior Year (Fall 2020): Appeared against Wake Forest and Boston College • competed in 14 minutes during the season

Junior Year (2019): Played in three games, seeing three minutes of playing time against Washington and four minutes against Portland • also played a season high 15 minutes against UNLV.

Sophomore Year (2018): Saw action in wins over Illinois, Marquette and Howard • played in three games overall, logging 24 minutes • qualified for 2018-19 ACC Academic Honor Roll • recorded a 4.0 grade point average in fall semester 2018 • named a 2018-19 Tar Heel Scholar Athlete • tapped for Dean’s List in fall semester 2018 and spring semester 2019.

Freshman Year (2017): Saw first action of her career, playing 15 minutes off bench in win over Syracuse • played in two games overall • named to 2017-18 ACC Academic Honor Roll.

High School: Attended Carrboro High School where she played soccer from 2014-17 • played both midfield and forward on the squad there • four-year starter at Carrboro • member of teams which won 2015, 2016 and 2017 NCHSAA 2-A state championship squads • played left midfield on 2015 state championship team that set an all-time (both boys and girls) NCHSAA record for fewest goals allowed in a season with just two • injured for most of junior year but returned to play in state championship game, helping lead team to victory • scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 win in 2017 NCHSAA 2-A quarterfinal contest • also scored the first goal, the eventual game winner, in 2017 state championship game • earned honors on NCHSAA 2-A All-Conference Team her sophomore and senior years • tapped for NCHSAA 2-A All-Region 5 team her senior year • a 2017 NCHSAA 2-A All-State honoree • selected to play in 2017 East-West All-Star Game • also added to roster for 2017 Clash of the Carolinas roster • scored 10 goals and added six assists in her senior year • was injured her junior campaign • had four goals and 16 assists as a sophomore and five goals and five assists as a freshman • finished her high school studies with a 4.5 GPA.

Club: Member of 2016/2017 CASL ECNL ’98 Team • long-time member of Triangle United Soccer Club • was a member of N.C. Olympic Development Program (ODP) Team 1 for several years.

Personal: Full name is Laura Wynne Sparling • the daughter of Bren and Randy Sparling • stands 5-5 tall • has an older sister, Sharon, age 24, and a twin sister Kate, age 21 • was born in April 1998 in Charlotte, N.C. • member of “Goals for Girls” trip to India in 2016 led by former UNC player Cindy Parlow • her mother and father both grew up in Chapel Hill • her mother played soccer at Guilford College • her father was a soccer player and golfer and was a long-time member of Rainbow Soccer • psychology major.