Haley Moses, a true leader within ONU Women’s Soccer
By Bud Denega
ADA — Over the last three years, the way in which the Ohio Northern women's soccer team elects its captain has changed. One thing that hasn't — the actual captain.
Whether it was decided upon by the team or the final decision came down to the head coach, Haley Moses has donned the captain title the last three years in Ada. And it's an honor she doesn't take lightly.
"For people to see how much I loved the program, and how much I worked, and how much time I was willing to put in, is awesome," Moses said. "I was really honored that people saw some leadership roles out of me because there's so many great leaders on this team. It was certainly an honor."
But the story of how Moses became a terrific leader, soccer player and person started long ago in southwest Ohio.
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For a while, Moses' father had two names — dad and coach. John Moses coached his daughter's soccer team from the time Haley was five-years old until she went off to high school.
And while some aspects of that coach-parent dynamic proved difficult, Haley Moses understands how important it was to her development.
"I think it made me so much better," Moses said. "You can never take a day off because your dad is there, and you know he's going to get on you if you're not working hard. My dad is probably the most competitive person I know, so that made me so competitive to begin with because I didn't have a choice to be otherwise.
"… I realize how much time and effort he put into that. It really changed who I was as a player and person."
Moses' success in club soccer coupled with her excellence in her high school garnered the interest from several Division I schools. But throughout the recruitment process, one school stood out — Ohio Northern.
She committed to the Polar Bears not only because she wanted to compete for championships, but also due to ONU's academic reputation.
"Priority wise, academics was first," Moses said. "I thought ONU would be a good balance. I could play on a really good team and see the field and still succeed academically."
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It didn't take long for Moses to make an impact in Ada. In her very first game as a Polar Bear, a game in which she started, Moses netted a goal against Kenyon in a 2-1 victory.
Since then, while many seniors have graduated, and starting lineups have changed, Moses has remained a constant. She has started every single game in her ONU career.
"She's a gamer," ONU head coach Mark Batman said. "You always know what you're going to get from her. She loves competing, she loves playing, she loves her teammates. Overall, you know what you're getting from her every single day."
Moses garnered second-team All-Ohio Athletic Conference honors as a freshman. She led the team with seven assists in 2016, which ranked second all-time in program history for a freshman.
That offseason, Moses continued to work on her craft, grew as a leader, and it didn't go unnoticed. Prior to Moses' sophomore season her teammates— many of whom were a couple years older than her — elected her as a captain.
"I think it speak volumes for what type of person she is," Batman said. "She's highly respected by her teammates on the field, off the field in training and in games. I think it speak volumes of her and her family."
Moses, once again, produced on the field. She was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Great Lakes Region first-team along with being tabbed as the OAC Midfielder of the Year.
Batman met with the outgoing seniors following Moses' sophomore campaign, and the message was consistent and clear — they need not look long and far for a captain. Moses would hold that distinction, yet again, as a junior.
More accolades — Great Lakes Region first-team, first-team All-OAC along with a few more — rolled in for Moses. Batman met with the outgoing seniors, spoke to them about leaders for next year, and déjà vu ensued.
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Moses has netted three goals in 2019 — 11 in her career — and her three assists this season bring her ONU total to 20, which ties her for ninth all-time in program history. Moses and her teammates have high goals for what the month of November will entail for the Polar Bears.
They want to win the conference tournament, punch a ticket to the NCAA Tournament and advance deep once there.
And when the dust settles on this season, and subsequently Moses' career, she'll look back on it with a smile. While the goals, wins and laughs have all been memorable, soccer has done so much more for the true leader from southwest Ohio.
"When I'm looking to get a job, they say things about my leadership roles, my teamwork, my ability to communicate and listen," Moses said. "Soccer has put me ahead of where I would have been if I hadn't been playing.
"Soccer has been an escape from academics. It's just fun, and it makes me happy."