Through trial and error we all find that space which helps us relax and get away from the pressures of everyday life.

We watch moves, we play video games, we read, we run, we walk.

Not so with the Cowgirl soccer team's last line of defense.

Junior goal keeper Hannah Lee relaxes in a very special way.

She writes short stories.

"I love to write, put pen to paper as they say," Wyoming's starting goal keeper tells me.

I'd love to read one Hannah.

"Not many people get to read them," she says.  "They're on my hard-drive under lock and key.  Those who have seem to think they're pretty good, at least, so that's fine.  I know this, I really enjoy doing it. "

What are the story lines?

"My short stories are about connections. They're about friendships, family, relationships.  Writing them is a great release for me.  It's a sidelight for me now, but I would love to have it as a career someday.  It's a great form of expression.

"I've been writing since high school," she continues. "College has helped me expand my experiences which helps when writing."

Hannah admits that, at times, it's not all that easy.  "Oh, there are times when I get writer's block.  When that happens I just step away from it.  I'll read a book or watch a move.  Give it a break.  I don't worry about it because I understand that it comes and goes."

What hasn't come and gone is her consistency in goal and in the classroom.  She has been outstanding in net, and even better academically, majoring in kinesiology and health promotion.

Through two seasons she has a goals-against average of 1.21, and currently ranks sixth on Wyoming's all-time career list.  Last season as a sophomore she produced a season-high six saves twice, once at Colorado College and once against UNLV. She has a total of 94 career saves heading into the fall, her junior season.

"Hannah is such a outstanding leader on and off the field," says her head coach Pete Cuadrado. "She has that instinct to know when to lead and when to support.  We love her consistency. She is a very technical goal keeper who really cares about the position.  We had recruited her for a long time, and when we saw her in goal for her elite club team in the ECNL (Elite Club National League) national championship, we knew we had a good one.  We were very excited to get her.

"She is dedicated to making a difference on and off the field, and that's what she has done," Cuadrado continues.  "She is one of those individuals who's always first to volunteer, just a great influence to have on the team."

Hannah is an Academic All-Mountain West selection and was named as a league Scholar Athlete as well.

Her immediate goal is to play soccer professionally.  But once soccer is behind her Hannah would like to go to chiropractic school.

For now she's plenty busy, thank you.

In addition to soccer, school and writing, Hannah has also receive a huge honor.  

She was one of two student-athletes from the Mountain West, and 65 from the entire country, to be selected to the Division I Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) as a national representative.  Each conference in the country is represented by two student-athletes.  It's exclusive, and pretty cool.

"Being the SAAC representative is a great honor, and a great opportunity," she says.  "Believe me, I don't take it lightly.  I am excited to be an advocate for all student-athletes.  Getting to be a voice at the core level is very special."

In her role, Hannah will attend several meeting at the NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis each year of her two-year appointment, as well as being involved in numerous zoom meetings with her fellow representatives and folks from the NCAA office.  The group will be tasked with being a voice for the country's student-athletes.  They will weigh in on issues such as the one-time transfer rule, the Name, Image, Likeness initiative, and other hot topics for student-athletes.  From those meetings they will report to the Mountain West SAAC group as well as her SAAC group here at UW.  She will begin her new role on July 1, and will be a member of the board through May 31 of 2022.

Hannah is a member of UW's SAAC Executive Board.  Her responsibility is a big one, she oversees social media coordination.

I haven't mention yet, but Hannah is from the bright lights of Las Vegas.  She attended Bishop Gorman High School a school where she produced an outstanding career.  She also played three seasons of elite club soccer.

It was during her club soccer experience where the Cowgirl coaching staff saw her on a number of occasions.  Assistant Coach Bob Casper recruited her.  "I didn't really know much about Wyoming then," she says.  "But the more my parents (Devin and Daphne) studied it, the more excited we became.  My parents came with me on my visit here.  Once we got here we all fell in love with it.  

"My parents love coming up here, and attend almost all of our home games.  They love it here.  We love the uniqueness of it, and how much the entire state supports us.  If you are a Cowboy or Cowgirl, you are very special to the people of Wyoming.

"It was really appealing to me because it was at the opposite end of the spectrum from Las Vegas.  Really the only thing I've had a little harder time adjusting to is the snow, especially in June," she laughs.

She made her choice to be a keeper early in her high school career.  "I needed to make a choice, and while being a defender or a forward might have been a good route to go, I chose keeper.  I've been doing that ever since and I really enjoy it. For me, that's where I can help the team the most.

"I want to be a leader for the team both on and off the field," she continues.  "I want to really work hard on remaining calm and cool in the box.  But I want to be that way for the whole team away from the field too."  

Hannah is still writing her story, and for my money it'll be a best seller.