University of Georgia Athletics
Quick Chat: Madison Haugen
October 18, 2022 | Soccer, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Madison Haugen has spent most of her soccer career playing forward, looking for goals and assists. This season, new Georgia coach Keidane McAlpine and his staff moved her to the Bulldogs' back line to help with the defense. Despite the position switch, Haugen is pushing forward when she can and her six assists leads the team.
A junior from Cumming, Ga., Haugen has started every game the past two seasons — her 1,218 minutes played in this fall are third on the team — while also excelling in the classroom. She was named a UGA Presidential Scholar and an SEC Academic Honor Roll member in 2020 and 2021.
During a Quick Chat, Haugen talked about her start in the sport, pushing herself in the classroom, her love of hibachi, and much more. Here's some of what she had to say:
Frierson: You're leading the team in assists so far this season. Is that in any way a surprise or did you see that becoming part of your role this season?
Haugen: I would say it is slightly a surprise, just because ... it's not surprising that I'm assisting because I've been a forward my whole life, but this year, moving back to outside back, I thought I would be a little more hesitant (to push forward) and I wouldn't be as involved in the attack.
The coaching staff really liked me getting up the field, so in some ways I guess it's not as much of a surprise since I am involved in the attack. But I didn't think I would be leading the team. It's pretty cool.
Frierson: What has it been like to have a new coaching staff and a fresh start this season?
Haugen: I'd say it's just excitement. We're all here to play for each other and to prove to everybody that we are a really good team and we are working to make it far and hopefully make it to the NCAA tournament. I feel like we have the coaching staff to do it, we have the players, and I feel like it's all jelling this year. It's exciting to be on the field.
Frierson: How did you get started in soccer? Did you play a bunch of different sports when you were younger?
Haugen: I was about 4 years old when I started. I'm the youngest and my sister is the oldest, with a brother in the middle, and my sister played soccer, which is what got me into it. They put me in when I was 4 years old and I guess it just stuck. I always really enjoyed it.
I didn't play many other sports, but I played basketball and did swimmer over the summer, and I ran track, but soccer was definitely what I was best at.
Frierson: You have a different appreciation for the sport now versus when you first got to college? Do you see it in a different way?
Haugen: I think so. You improve each year and your soccer knowledge gets better each year, so I feel like you look at the game differently.
Frierson: You obviously are doing very well in the classroom. Has that always been the case? Were you always a very driven student?
Haugen: Yes. I never had a B in high school or before that. I was always into making straight As, and my whole family is really smart. My mom's an accountant and my dad's in finance, so I guess they pushed me to be good. My sister was always good at school and as the little sister I wanted to be just like her.
Frierson: Do you have a favorite class you've taken at Georgia?
Haugen: Yes, it's LEGL 2700 (Legal and Regulatory Environment of Business), which is an introduction to law. I found that really interesting and it's sparked my interest in going to law school.
Frierson: In a perfect world, what are you doing in 10 years?
Haugen: I don't know, I guess I have to see where soccer takes me. At this rate, after soccer I would probably want to become a lawyer, and then hope I'd be a successful attorney. If not, I'm a Risk Management major, so I could be an underwriter or something. I'm not sure yet.
Frierson: The good news is that you don't have to have all that figured out right now. What is something you could eat every day and never get tired of it?
Haugen: Oh, my gosh, the whole team knows this. I love hibachi, so the fried rice, the steak, the vegetables with it — that's my favorite meal. I could eat it actually every day.
Frierson: Do you enjoy the performance part of the hibachi experience, as well?
Haugen: If I go to eat hibachi, I have to have them cook it right in front of me. I think that's the best part. I guess it makes to the food taste better, too.
Frierson: Who is the funniest person on the team?
Haugen: By far, Alexis Parker. Oh, my gosh, since we came freshman year, she constantly makes everybody laugh. I don't think she always intends to, she's just funny. Outside of practice, in practice, she always adds a little funniness to the conversation.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Staff Writer
Madison Haugen has spent most of her soccer career playing forward, looking for goals and assists. This season, new Georgia coach Keidane McAlpine and his staff moved her to the Bulldogs' back line to help with the defense. Despite the position switch, Haugen is pushing forward when she can and her six assists leads the team.
A junior from Cumming, Ga., Haugen has started every game the past two seasons — her 1,218 minutes played in this fall are third on the team — while also excelling in the classroom. She was named a UGA Presidential Scholar and an SEC Academic Honor Roll member in 2020 and 2021.
During a Quick Chat, Haugen talked about her start in the sport, pushing herself in the classroom, her love of hibachi, and much more. Here's some of what she had to say:
Frierson: You're leading the team in assists so far this season. Is that in any way a surprise or did you see that becoming part of your role this season?
Haugen: I would say it is slightly a surprise, just because ... it's not surprising that I'm assisting because I've been a forward my whole life, but this year, moving back to outside back, I thought I would be a little more hesitant (to push forward) and I wouldn't be as involved in the attack.
The coaching staff really liked me getting up the field, so in some ways I guess it's not as much of a surprise since I am involved in the attack. But I didn't think I would be leading the team. It's pretty cool.
Frierson: What has it been like to have a new coaching staff and a fresh start this season?
Haugen: I'd say it's just excitement. We're all here to play for each other and to prove to everybody that we are a really good team and we are working to make it far and hopefully make it to the NCAA tournament. I feel like we have the coaching staff to do it, we have the players, and I feel like it's all jelling this year. It's exciting to be on the field.
Frierson: How did you get started in soccer? Did you play a bunch of different sports when you were younger?
Haugen: I was about 4 years old when I started. I'm the youngest and my sister is the oldest, with a brother in the middle, and my sister played soccer, which is what got me into it. They put me in when I was 4 years old and I guess it just stuck. I always really enjoyed it.
I didn't play many other sports, but I played basketball and did swimmer over the summer, and I ran track, but soccer was definitely what I was best at.
Frierson: You have a different appreciation for the sport now versus when you first got to college? Do you see it in a different way?
Haugen: I think so. You improve each year and your soccer knowledge gets better each year, so I feel like you look at the game differently.
Frierson: You obviously are doing very well in the classroom. Has that always been the case? Were you always a very driven student?
Haugen: Yes. I never had a B in high school or before that. I was always into making straight As, and my whole family is really smart. My mom's an accountant and my dad's in finance, so I guess they pushed me to be good. My sister was always good at school and as the little sister I wanted to be just like her.
Frierson: Do you have a favorite class you've taken at Georgia?
Haugen: Yes, it's LEGL 2700 (Legal and Regulatory Environment of Business), which is an introduction to law. I found that really interesting and it's sparked my interest in going to law school.
Frierson: In a perfect world, what are you doing in 10 years?
Haugen: I don't know, I guess I have to see where soccer takes me. At this rate, after soccer I would probably want to become a lawyer, and then hope I'd be a successful attorney. If not, I'm a Risk Management major, so I could be an underwriter or something. I'm not sure yet.
Frierson: The good news is that you don't have to have all that figured out right now. What is something you could eat every day and never get tired of it?
Haugen: Oh, my gosh, the whole team knows this. I love hibachi, so the fried rice, the steak, the vegetables with it — that's my favorite meal. I could eat it actually every day.
Frierson: Do you enjoy the performance part of the hibachi experience, as well?
Haugen: If I go to eat hibachi, I have to have them cook it right in front of me. I think that's the best part. I guess it makes to the food taste better, too.
Frierson: Who is the funniest person on the team?
Haugen: By far, Alexis Parker. Oh, my gosh, since we came freshman year, she constantly makes everybody laugh. I don't think she always intends to, she's just funny. Outside of practice, in practice, she always adds a little funniness to the conversation.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ Soccer
Forward
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