Central Michigan Life

Issue date: 12/5/07 Section: Sports

Lisa Taube, a former defender for the women's soccer team, is now a police officer in Asheville, N.C. [Click to enlarge]

Editor's note: This is the fourth part in an occasional series remembering some of CMU's most established former student-athletes.


Lisa Taube always has been about putting others before herself.

Taube joined the CMU soccer team in 2001 as a quiet freshman defender who wasn't sure what her role would be on the field or in the locker room.

"I think she had a quiet intensity about her; even though she wasn't the most vocal player on the roster, she always worked hard. She was very consistent," said Tony DiTucci, CMU's head coach who was an assistant coach for Taube's first three seasons.

Taube now works as a police officer in Asheville, N.C. Taube said while being an officer has been a lifelong goal, it took a couple years for her former coach to buy into it.

"I think back when she was here we may have thought that was a stretch because she was so quiet and shy," DiTucci said. "But she works hard at the things she cares about. She's grown into that role. I think all of us were probably a little surprised when she was younger, but with Lisa's determination, I'm not surprised at all that she's been a success."

It soon became apparent that while Taube starred on the field, she also was a leader in the locker room. In 2004, her teammates showed their gratitude by naming her a captain her senior season.

"She had so much passion for the game and she was always looking out for us and she was the only senior when I was a sophomore," said Annie Decker, a former teammate of Taube's. "It didn't matter because I didn't think we needed anyone else to lead us. That's what type of a leader she was."

Taube continues to downplay her success and prefers to talk about her teammates instead.

"My fondest memories are the closeness of the team and the road trips. I still keep in touch with my teammates," Taube said. "Some of the younger players, I try to talk to them every so often and I've made it back for all the alumni games, so I see everybody there. The Internet's made it pretty easy to keep in touch with the people I played with."

Continued...

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