If a college athlete is of superior talent, it is expected that they would be a starter for his or her respective team. This is not always the case when there are 24 other athletes of equal talent all jockeying for a chance to step on the playing surface.

And if this athlete has an unselfish nature and would do anything to help their team win, even better.

The Sacramento State women’s soccer team has such a player.

Senior forward Leah Larot has played a total of 62 games coming into this season. Out of those 62 games played, she has started a total of 29 at the forward position.

So far this season, she has started all seven games for the Hornets and currently leads the team with 11 points and five goals.

She also leads the team with 11 shots-on-goal and holds the second highest percentage of .647.

Head coach Randy Dedini said she is not the kind of player who will demand playing time over her teammates.

“She’s never complained about not starting,” Dedini said. “I think she has also understood that she was going to get her time, whether it was coming off the bench or starting.”

She ranked 10th on the team with 1,063 total minutes played last season.

Larot said it is tough not starting, but that it works to the teams advantage later in game as she is able to come off the bench and have an immediate impact.

“Personally, it is sometimes a struggle when I don’t start, but I know that coming off the bench I have the ability to shake up the game for my team,” Larot said. “I can be something new and be something the defense doesn’t expect.”

Friend and teammate, midfielder Cori Shreve said she saw Larot’s giving nature coming in as a freshman.

“She puts her teammates before herself. She always makes sure that everyone on the team is taken care of. If we ever need to talk, she will talk with us. If we ever want to work out, she we will work out with us,” Shreve said. “She is always out here supporting us.”

“I saw it when I first met her. She has always been really unselfish. She is a great friend, teammate and a hard worker,” Shreve said.

Dedini said Larot teaches others on the team through her body of work.

“She leads by example. She has never been that outspoken type of leader, but she has always been a super hard worker,” Dedini said. “She comes to practice every day with a smile on her face. I think she has inspired players around her just because of the attitude she carries around with her.”

Matt Harrington can be reached at [email protected]