Lauren DeBeau

Lauren Jacqueline DeBeau is an American former soccer player who played as a forward. She played college soccer for the Central Michigan Chippewas and the Michigan State Spartans, earning Big Ten Forward of the Year and second-team All-American honors at Michigan State in 2022. She was selected by Portland Thorns FC in the second round of the 2023 NWSL Draft.

Early life DeBeau grew up in Shelby Township, Michigan, where she began playing soccer at the age of 5. She played two years of Elite Clubs National League soccer with Vardar ECNL before joining the Carpathia Kickers for the next eight years. She attended Eisenhower High School, where she earned multiple all-county, all-region, and all-state honors; DeBeau also played four years of varsity basketball in high school and had aspirations to take her basketball career to the collegiate level as well. She was a two-year team captain for both the soccer and basketball teams. In the fall of 2021, she started all 18 of the Spartans' games and scored two goals (both of which were game-winners). She helped Michigan State win the Big Ten regular season title and finish the ensuing Big Ten tournament as runners-up. In the Big Ten tournament championship match, DeBeau scored one of two goals for Michigan State as the Spartans were defeated by Penn State; she was then named to the Big Ten tournament all-tournament team for her efforts. At the end of the year, DeBeau was unanimously selected to the All-Big Ten first team.

Club career DeBeau, alongside Michigan State teammate Lauren Kozal, were selected by the Portland Thorns in the 2023 NWSL Draft. DeBeau was the final pick of the draft's second round, becoming the 24th overall selection. She attended the Thorns' preseason training camp, but was released ahead of the 2023 NWSL season.

Personal life DeBeau is a passionate fan of boy band Big Time Rush. She has posed with Big Time Rush's flag in multiple of her Michigan State Spartans official photos.

Honors and awards Michigan State Spartans

Big Ten Conference: 2022

Individual

Second-team All-American: 2022 First-team All-Big Ten: 2022 Mid-American All-Freshman team: 2019 Big Ten tournament all-tournament team: 2022 Big Ten Forward of the Year: 2022