For Taylor Morris, moving to Australia meant not having to put one dream on the bench for another.
The Canadian has arrived on the Gold Coast after five years of collegiate soccer in the United States, ready to take on the challenge of studying physiotherapy at Bond University while continuing her sporting career in the Queensland Premier league.
“I thought I was going to have to choose,” Morris said.
“The fact that Australia and Bond have allowed me to continue playing soccer while studying is really exciting.”
Morris touched in February with experience at two major collegiate soccer programs.
After graduating from high school during the uncertainty of COVID-19, she moved to Georgia to play for Valdosta State University before later transferring to the University of Tennessee Chattanooga for her fifth and final season.
Now, just weeks into her first semester at Bond, she is adjusting to another new chapter while continuing her soccer journey with Logan Lightning.
Sport has been a constant throughout her life, having grown up playing everything from ice hockey and softball to soccer.
But one sport eventually stuck.
“Soccer is just so simple,” she said.
“It’s played around the world, and it’s kind of a universal language. You can pretty much go anywhere and play.”
While the game itself may be familiar, Morris said settling into Australian sport has come with some new experiences.
The community atmosphere and culture are the biggest differences.
“In the US and at home, a lot of our games have paid entry, but here it’s very much about the community,” Morris said.
“The culture is amazing, and seeing so many people come out to games was definitely a surprise.”
Away from the field, Morris has started the intensive two-year Doctor of Physiotherapy program, with hopes of one day combining her passion for sport and healthcare.
While she plans to keep an open mind, a future in soccer physiotherapy feels like the obvious choice.
“It’s hard not to connect my two worlds,” she said.
“Soccer has always been such a big passion of mine.”
For now, Morris is focused on embracing every opportunity that comes her way while studying at Bond.
“I just want to experience as much as I can.”