Nogueira's passion for soccer speaks volumes

CHAPEL HILL -- Back in high school, Casey Nogueira wanted so badly to become part of UNC's winning women's soccer program that her mother moved her and her brother from Cedarburg, Wis., to Raleigh so she could play closer to the Tar Heels.

"We just wanted to go where the best soccer was," said Nogueira, who asked around and chose Broughton on the advice of a club coach.

Nogueira will play for North Carolina against the University of Illinois in the third round of the NCAA women's soccer tournament at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Fetzer Field.

The junior forward isn't one of the team co-captains, nor is she a vocal leader. But she leads the team in goals (22), points (52), and game-winning goals (6). Her speed and powerful kick are a presence on a team itching to win another national championship.

"She's stepped up in big ways this year," said teammate Yael Averbuch, who is a co-captain. "We're the kind of team where different people lead through different methods. We have some vocal leaders, and Casey is not going to be one to say, 'Come on guys, pick it up!'

"But she's scored a lot of really important goals for us. So she's been an extraordinary leader for us this year."

Nogueira had long wanted to be a part of UNC's winning tradition. The Heels have won 18 NCAA titles in 26 seasons.

She was in a winning program at Broughton, too, and was a big part of two state titles before she graduated a year early.

"She's definitely the most skilled player we've had here," said Broughton coach Izzy Hernandez, who keeps in touch with his former player. "She's not a leader by communication. She's vocally unassertive, but her game can be explosive. She's a great finisher."

During her freshman season at UNC, the Tar Heels won the national title.

Dorrance said Nogueira has grown since then.

"She was passive defensively last year, but you could see the skill dripping off of her game," he said.

A great part of her skill and passion was passed down to her by her father Victor Nogueira, who played professional soccer for more than 20 years for teams such as the Chicago Sting of the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League and the Milwaukee Wave of the MISL.

"He is the reason. ... He was always into my brother being good at soccer," Nogueira recalled. "I was like, 'What about me?' "

And while she said her brother eventually gave up the sport, her passion for the game grew.

"I never got burnt out, thankfully," she said.

She's been receptive to Dorrance's advice.

"She had some qualities that absolutely separated her," Dorrance said.

But he wanted her to play faster. He wanted her, like every player on his team, to play intense, sound defense.

"You can have all these skills and go absolutely nowhere," Dorrance said. "We needed to get her to finish and create chances."

Dorrance has created a mantra for Nogueira and the entire team, when it comes to shooting inside the 18-yard box. Shoot low to make it difficult for the goalie to catch the ball. Shoot with accuracy over power.

"He's really pounded that into our heads, and it's paid off," Nogueira said.

Added Dorrance: "When she does those things, she's going to score."

Nogueira is one of two players on the team with the green light to shoot from outside.

"Outside the box, it's basically power over accuracy. It's high, it's bent, it's on the frame. ... Right now, Casey Nogueira is becoming a soccer clinic in doing the right things to score goals."

Dorrance, who has coached the likes of Olympians Heather O'Reilly and Mia Hamm, said the Olympics are an attainable goal for Nogueira, who has dreamed of such heights since she was a child.

"I'm really thankful that I'm put into this situation, where I might really get there," said Nogueira, who would also like to play professionally.

Nogueira has always wanted to be around others as passionate about the game as she is.

Hernandez remembered the impact that type of attitude had on his Broughton team.

"That transpired to the other players, too," Hernandez said. "She's so passionate about the game, that it ran onto the other ones."

She remembers her mother intervening when she would juggle the ball incessantly.

"She would have to steal the ball away from me," laughed Nogueira. "I was really obsessed with it."

The obsession hasn't passed.

"I just love being around the ball and just shooting and juggling," she said. "It's really cool to come here and be around other people with the same passion."