WASHINGTON (May 6, 2025) – Howard University Department of Athletics rolls on with its senior spotlight series, catching up with NEC (Northeast Conference) Champion Zoe Moore (Lutz, Fla.) from the women's soccer team, who was interviewed by legal communications major freshman Tanbrance Berry.
 
Q: What made you want to play soccer at Howard?
A: It had always been in the back of my mind and then COVID-19 happened with recruiting and it was difficult to get in touch with any coaches, in general. I was really just looking at schools because I was not sure how soccer was going to work out. I started looking at who I wanted to be as a person and what I wanted to pursue after soccer. The Howard School of Business was one of the main things that drew me to HU. Then, I remember seeing a video of the Howard women's soccer team during COVID-19 and they were juggling and looked like a really cool group. Everyone looked like me and that has never happened, especially on a soccer team so that is what really drew me towards playing soccer here.
 
Q: You made the 2024 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Soccer Academic All-District Team. How did you maintain such a high GPA as a student-athlete?
A: Being a student-athlete actually helped me because there is an element to organization that being a student-athlete gives you, which is time management. It gives you that structure and just having that student-athlete mentality of putting in 100-percent into everything.
 
Q: Why did you switch from business to sports management?
A: I really enjoyed being a part of a soccer team and I knew that probably was not going to last forever. So, I looked into sports law and sports agency. That was just something I really wanted to do, especially with NIL starting to come through. I really wanted to take an athlete approach and be a person that could support these professional athletes and make sure they are actually doing what they want to do and not being forced to take options because of the money but that they can have those opportunities while still standing up for what they believe in. I just really want to be that voice for them later on in my life.
 
Q: What is your plan after graduation?
A: I am taking a gap year before law school and hoping to play overseas for a couple years. But the plan eventually is to attend law school.
 
Q: This is the first year Howard won a Northeastern Conference Tournament after being in the Conference for three seasons, what made this year different?
A: Last year, we got really close in the NEC Semifinal round. We scored first, but there was just an unfortunate penalty called in the box in the last few minutes of the game. You could feel the energy was not there anymore and we ended up losing that game but you could feel all the pieces coming together.
 
This year, during the summer, I worked for a professional soccer team near my hometown and all my coworkers were asking me the team's expectations. I was fully confident we were winning this year, I felt it.
 
Everyone was putting in the work over the summer. Savannah Hersh, my roommate during my freshman and sophomore years, had two ACL injuries and this was going to be her comeback year. She played midfield and that dynamic helped me and certain aspects of the team. Many of us were seniors this past season, so it was our last chance to win the NEC title.
 
Q: You were named All-NEC Second Team, what contributed to that accomplishment?
A: The trust that the coaches put in me. Even when I made mistakes on the field, they were very confident that I could regain focus. They trusted that I had the skill and knowledge to perform at a high level. That put a lot of confidence in me to go out there because I have all the tools to play the game.
 
Q: What is your funniest soccer memory?
A: Coach Phillip Gyau (Howard men's soccer head coach) is still really good at soccer and can lift crazy weights (lol). So, Savannah wanted to go against him and he took it personal (lol). He embarrassed her so many times (lol), but she kept trash talking.
 
Q: How has Howard prepared you for your future endeavors?
A: Howard has prepared me a lot by giving me a reliable support system. I never had friends that support you. I can talk to my friends about anything.
 
It also allowed me to get out of my shell because I am still kind of quiet, but now, I have the ability to make those connections, network with people and develop strong relationships where I have my own identity. When I was younger, my brother went to my school and eventually my dad taught there. So, Howard helped me to create a name for myself.
 
Q: Who is your biggest motivator?
A: My biggest motivators would be my brother and dad because they give me the confidence to pursue my future endeavors, which is playing pro overseas.
 
Q: How would your teammates describe you?
A: I would say off the field pretty quiet and mellow person. But on the field, definitely really intense.
 
Q: What advice do you have for incoming freshmen who would want to play soccer at Howard?
A: I would say you need to put full effort in training because games and practices may not go your way but effort is always something you can control.
 
Also, enjoy the experience because you do not see as many black girls in soccer because of how inaccessible it is compared to other sports. Truly talk to everyone, learn about their experiences and introduce yourself to new perspectives because you will find yourself not a completely different person but you will find yourself changing in the best way possible. You have a greater perspective of the world.
 
About Moore

• Personal:
  • Hometown: Lutz, Fla.
  • Major: Sports Management
• Academic Achievements at Howard:
  • College Sports Communicators (CSC) Soccer Academic All-District Team
  • NEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
  • NEC Fall Commissioner's Honor Roll
• Athletic Achievements at Howard:
  • NEC Champion
  • All-NEC Second Team

 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.