Rachel Axon Joins Houston Dash
Former Oregon State soccer star Rachael Axon has returned to the United States and is ready to make her mark on this side of the Atlantic Ocean again, this time in the National Women’s Soccer League.
A starting midfielder on two NCAA-tournament teams and a Pacific-10 Conference all-star as a senior in 2009 for the Beavers following her transfer from UAB, the 29-year-old London native has signed with the Houston Dash after playing the past four seasons in the Norwegian Toppserien.
She was in the starting lineup on March 29 when the Dash defeated the University of Texas 2-0 in a noncounting friendly at Houston Sports Park. Houston opens its NWSL season against the Washington Spirit on April 10 at its BBVA Compass Stadium.
Axon will see a familiar face in the opener, as her 2007 OSU teammate, Jodie Taylor, plays for Washington. She will also return to the Pacific Northwest for two games, against the Portland Thorns on May 23 and against the Seattle Reign on Aug. 12.
Axon said she’s thrilled to be living in this country again after playing overseas the past four years.
“When I left the United States in 2011, I was truly under the impression that my soccer career in North America was over,” she said. “To come back across the pond four years later and play for what is regarded as one of the strongest leagues in the world is nothing short of a dream.
“In fact, I still have a copy of an Everyday Champion article I wrote for OSU back in 2008. One of the questions was ‘My dream job would be’ in which I responded with ‘a professional soccer player.’
“Pretty cool to say that I achieved that! As well as ‘In 10 years, I’d like to be… an American citizen.’ I’m still working on that one, ha ha.”
Axon will almost definitely be a starter during the first half of the season, when players from the various national teams from around the world are away from their NWSL clubs training for the 2015 Women’s World Cup, to be played in Canada.
“Rachael can be a season-long starter depending on other moves we are able to make and depending on what we have to do to get our best eleven on the field,” Dash coach Randy Waldrum said.
Waldrum knew of Axon from his college coaching days at Notre Dame. His Irish eliminated OSU 1-0 in the Sweet 16 of the 2008 NCAA Tournament, a game in which Waldrum said Axon was the “best player on the pitch for either team.”
“She’s somebody I would have had my eye on anyway,” he added. “But it definitely helped that it fell in place that her contract was running out and we could get her.
“It was just an added plus that she’s not involved with the England national team. So, we got a player we wanted who we think can help us out in midfield and we got a player who will be here all year.”
Axon has considerable experience beyond OSU. She played fort the Ottawa Fury in W-League in 2007 and 2008, and for AFC Wimbledon, Vitoria de Santo Antao of Brazil before heading to Norway. She had two goals in 23 games for Kolbotn on the Norway last season.
She has also played for the English U-19 and U-21 national teams.
OSU coach Linus Rhode described Axon as “a great person and player.”
“I know she will continue to go on and do great things, it is in her nature!” Rhode added. “We are all very proud of her and all her accomplishments."
OSU Athletic Communications caught up with Axon for a brief interview earlier this week as she continued preparing for the upcoming season.
BEAVERS: How excited are you to sign with Houston and to return to the United States?
AXON: “Excited would certainly be an understatement. The four months prior to moving to Houston, I would often have to pinch myself. It took for me to actually arrive and suit up for our very first practice for it to truly set in.”
BEAVERS: What are your initial impressions of the NWSL?
AXON: “Of course, my opinion of the NWSL is based solely on what I think of the league at this moment in time and what I hope to expect. Obviously, I cannot speak from direct experience.
“The U.S. has undoubtedly the largest and strongest feeder system for women’s soccer in the world. The collegiate system is the equivalent of being a professional athlete (without the salary), so it best prepares you for life as a professional athlete. There is no better environment for young and upcoming talent.
“The NWSL serves as the perfect opportunity to be the best soccer player you can be. It is the opportunity to train and play as a full-time professional in the best resources and facilities available.
“During my career, I have been fortunate enough to play in many different countries and leagues. Yet, even with these experiences, the desire to play in the U.S. has always been the ultimate dream. And with the number of top internationals that have gone on to play in NWSL, I think it is safe to say I am not the only one.”
BEAVERS: What are you looking forward to the most?
“Does coming home with a tan count? Ha. Definitely the opportunity to play under the very successful and highly regarded Randy Waldrum, for one.
“I have heard nothing other than positive feedback on him as a coach and person and his record speaks volumes. And going by my own experiences thus far, he has a very calming effect, which transfers into how I play and feel being here.
“But seeing as I have been here for four weeks now, I can tell you what I enjoy the most is the level of competition. There is so much depth in the squad, which makes for high-intensity, highly-competitive trainings.
“As with any soccer team I play for, as generic as it sounds, my ambition is always to be the best soccer player I can be. Even at the age of 29, there is always room for growth. I am looking forward to continuing to grow as a player on the field and as a person off the field.
“I also have no doubt I will come out of this experience a better athlete. We are fortunate enough (although during fitness sessions I question this) to work with the sports scientist for NASA and he certainly puts us through our paces.
“All of the above combined is going to put me in the best possible position to play alongside and against some of the greatest female soccer players of this generation. I am excited to see how I compete.”
BEAVERS: What can you add to the Dash?
AXON: “Yikes! This is always the hardest question. Maybe Linus can answer this one for me. Ha. I can easily tell you I won’t be adding speed!
“I would say my strength positively lies in my passing game. I feel very comfortable with the ball at my feet where I can distribute over long and short distances.
“I hope that my composure on the ball provides a calming effect in the Dash midfield and my experience will contribute to our predominantly young team. Not to mention, someone’s gotta teach these kids to speak proper English.”
BEAVERS: How did you like living in Norway the past four years?
AXON: “Over the years, I have come to build a reputation as quite the globetrotter. I have undoubtedly caught the travel bug. I have been fortunate enough to travel to six of the seven continents and live as a full-time soccer player in four different countries.
“For the past four years, I have pursued my professional soccer career in a country known for its fjords, mountains and midnight sun. And I can confirm that none are to disappoint. Norway is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places on Earth. It is no doubt that the nature of Norway is one of its most prized possessions.
“It's home to more natural wonders than I could have imagined. It is a place that can give great joy by just walking outside. Norway's fjords are natural wonders that just beg you to go exploring. And if anyone tries telling you that when you have seen one fjord, you have seen them all, they simply haven’t visited more than one.
“During my time there, I was fortunate enough to snap a picture at the peak of some of the country’s and world’s most famous landmarks. Some of which I was able to do as a recovery session the day after a fixture. I am sure you will agree that certainly beats a trip to the gym.”
BEAVERS: How good was that league?
AXON: “The Norwegian League is becoming one of the strongest leagues in Europe. The national team has certainly made its mark as a power to be reckoned with, finishing second in the most recent 2013 European Championships.
“It maintains a very strong youth system, with girls as young as the age of 15 playing in the top division. The one thing I particularly enjoyed about the Toppserien is the level of competitiveness. On any given day, any team can walk away with the three points.
“Norway is a vast country. Between the distances separating the teams, compromised by climate and playing surface, the results are often so unpredictable. Not to mention the length of the season. A 3-month preseason, followed by a 7-month season, results in injuries, fatigue and so forth.
“Of course, you will always have you the two top teams, much like many of the men’s professional leagues. Yet, the 2014 season was a great example not to disregard the less favorable teams. As a player, there is nothing better than knowing that every game you go into is a battle.
BEAVERS: What are some of the things you most like about being a pro player?
AXON: “I thought nothing could compete with playing college soccer, but playing soccer overseas is an experience that not only challenges you on the field, but also challenges you to see yourself in a completely new light off the field.
“You get to push your soccer skills to another level in a completely new culture, with completely new people. I have learned that no matter what language your coach or teammates speak, everyone speaks the delicate yet riveting language of soccer.
“You have an endless amount of opportunities to travel and make friends from all corners of the world, big and small. It is kind of surreal to view soccer as a job because it is hard to comprehend actually getting paid for something you truly love. I feel very privileged to do so.
“Having thrown myself into these experiences since I first moved away from England in 2006, the person I see in the mirror is stamped with beautiful memories that I will carry with me forever.”
BEAVERS: Do you still keep in touch with some of your OSU teammates?
AXON: “I still connect with a few on a personal level. Colleen Boyd hassles me all the time. Ha. For the most part, I keep updated with their new lives via FaceSpace.
BEAVERS: What do you remember most fondly about playing at OSU?
AXON: “Where do I start? Oregon State and Corvegas will forever hold a very special place in my heart. My senior year will always be the ultimate highlight. To be a part of the program during a period that made school history is a very special thing and one of my proudest moments in my soccer career.
“I continue to hold a very close relationship with Linus, Michelle [Voiland] and Eric [Pohl]. All three are very much a contributing factor to the player and person I am today.”
BEAVERS: Any plans for life after your playing days? Coaching perhaps?
AXON: “Unfortunately, coaching is not on the agenda. Although you speak to any of my close friends and they will tell you otherwise. I know myself enough to know that I would find it very hard to be in the game and not be playing.
“Life after soccer is somewhat of a scary thought. I am yet to even decide what continent it is I want to live in. Ha. My short-term plan, at this moment in time, is to go backpacking for a year. As much as I have traveled up to now, I truly want to experience what the world has to offer.
“I want to live and work around the world, experience culture and be a local in as many foreign places as possible. I love challenges and doing things I never thought were possible for me.
“Long-term, my goal is to eventually go back to school to do a PhD in Sports Psychology. I also have this little ‘dream,’ per say, to foster kids who come from a similar background to myself and provide them with an environment where they can put themselves in the best possible position to obtain an athlete scholarship.
“I have lived independently from the age of 15. For me, college never seemed a possibility, at least not without coming out with a huge sum of debt. Soccer completely changed that.
“My passion for soccer kept me focused throughout my childhood, then through college, and now through my adult career. As a result, not only am I the only member of my family to have attended college, but also I was able to graduate with two bachelors and a master’s degree on scholarship.
“Everything I have accomplished can be traced back to my monomania for soccer. It continues to play a significant role in my desire to be successful in life. It has taught me to be organized, driven, focused and be a good team member. It has allowed me meet some very special people, experience some extremely challenging situations and have the opportunity to visit some very special places.
“Knowing all this, I could not think of anything more rewarding than helping young athletes do the same. I already currently run a small business on the side of my soccer career called Football Not Soccer. Football Not Soccer serves as a networking platform, dedicated to former collegiate female soccer players who want to extend their soccer career with playing opportunities abroad.
“It has been created for NCAA/CIS college graduates who have exhausted their athletic eligibility, as well as clubs around the world looking to strengthen their squad. I do my best to help connect the two.”
