Playing for the hometown team can be a dream come true for some, and that’s no different for Nicholls State University women’s soccer team senior Koryn Barrett.
Barrett, a Houma, La. native, is a senior forward for Nicholls women’s soccer and is currently playing in her fourth and final season with the Colonels.
Barrett fell in love with the game at a very young age and watched her older siblings play.
“It’s just something I’ve always wanted to do,” Barrett said. “I wanted to kind of follow in their footsteps.”
That love for the game she found at an early age continues to motivate her and keep her fresh in her senior season.
“I still feel like a freshman,” Barrett said. “Sometimes, I forget that I am a couple years older than the other girls.”
Barrett enrolled at Nicholls State University in 2020, after graduating from Houma Christian High School, located 30 minutes south of campus.
Barrett felt that playing for her hometown team was important to her.
“I love it,” Barrett said. “It was one of my biggest [factors] being able to pick a school close because I wanted to play close to home.”
Barrett played soccer for four years at Houma Christian under head coach Marty Boquet. While at Houma Christian, Barrett earned several accolades.
She earned first-team All-District in each of her four years, second-team All-State in her freshman year, District MVP in her sophomore, junior and senior year, District Offensive MVP in her senior year, and All-Regional team honors in her sophomore and junior years. Barrett was also a member of the National Honor Society.
Barrett also helps out by offering private lessons to kids around the city. This winter, she will be coaching soccer at Covenant Christian Academy in Houma.
Her mom, Sonya, inspires her to play the game.
“She has definitely shown me throughout my life that anything is possible if your mind is set on it,” Barrett said. “I use the inspiration and the things she’s sealed into me when I’m playing.”
Junior defender Lauren Andre has had a big impact on Barrett’s game since youth soccer and Barrett pointed to Andre as a reason she continues to play soccer.
“We have played together since we were 8 or 9 years old,” Barrett said. “She’s one of my reasons why I like to play, and why I like to be here. She holds me accountable and keeps me going.”
Barrett’s future in the game of soccer remains unknown to her, but she plans on attending graduate school after graduation to earn a doctorate in physical therapy.
Barrett is an allied health major concentrating in pre-professional and when she isn’t playing soccer, she can be found studying.
A couple of Barrett’s other interests are running, snacking and watching Netflix.
