秘密研究所

South Soccer Player Doubles as Midfielder for the Hellenic Women鈥檚 National Team

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Posted on October 17, 2019

Jeb Schrenk

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On the way to defeat Georgia Southern, the 秘密研究所 women鈥檚 team 鈥� specifically assistant coach Rob Ward 鈥� needed to make a stop.

His mission: pick up midfielder Athanasia Moraitou from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and deliver her to Statesboro, Ga., where she would meet up with her team. Well, one of her teams.

Such are the logistical considerations faced when you recruit a student-athlete who also takes the field for the Hellenic Women鈥檚 National Team.

Moraitou鈥檚 commitment to Greece means she had to miss the Jags鈥� recent win against Arkansas State, and she鈥檒l be playing against Montenegro and Ireland during next month鈥檚 Sun Belt Conference Tournament.

But her contributions to the South Alabama team are undeniable. 鈥淗aving played at the levels she鈥檚 played, she鈥檚 just really smart,鈥� said Head Coach Richard Moodie. 鈥淲e knew recruiting her we鈥檇 be supporting this.鈥�

Moraitou started in South鈥檚 first 12 games before leaving to play in the Oct. 8 Greece-Germany matchup. Up to then, she had seven points on a goal and five assists, and added another assist within 10 minutes of taking the field last week against Georgia Southern. Her maturity and experience also shows in the locker room, Moodie said, with Moraitou on track to being a team captain next year.

For Moraitou, soccer and life actually began in Germany. Born to a Greek national and a German mother whose family emigrated from Greece, Moraitou was raised outside of Stuttgart. While home may be Germany, Moraitou identifies as a Greek. Her name, upbringing and the music she listens to are Greek, even if her accent happens to be German.

At age 3, Moraitou wanted to play soccer. Her parents expressed some reluctance, and at one point tried to persuade her to take up volleyball or handball. But she wanted to play soccer.

So at 6 years old, Moraitou made a deal with her mother. Young Athanasia would play the flute, and in return, she would also get to play soccer. That lasted two weeks before her flute teacher handed down an edict.

鈥淪he said, 鈥榊ou have to stop soccer, because you鈥檙e really bad (at flute),鈥欌�� Moraitou said. She put down the flute; soccer stayed.

Without an organized girls team in the area, her parents sought permission for her to play with the boys, which she did until age 14.

At 15, Moraitou played for the junior national team for Germany. Then came the call from Greece. She accepted the invite and eventually moved up to its senior team, playing in 2017 and 2019 qualifiers for the Women鈥檚 Championship and World Cup.

She still gets goosebumps when she takes the field to Greece鈥檚 national anthem. 鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing,鈥� she said, 鈥渢o play for your country.鈥�

At South, Moraitou is a graduate student who plans to pursue a Master鈥檚 in Business Administration. She earned her undergrad in Germany, where she also interned at automotive maker Daimler AG. She wants a corporate job after finishing South, but also wants to try to play professionally.

If that involves some traveling, she鈥檚 more than ready to get picked up at the airport.

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