On the soccer field, Pat Lauer could do it all. And he often did. On old rosters, Lauer could be found listed as a forward, a mid-fielder, or a defender, his position often defined by whatever was the V-Hawks' biggest need.

"What separated Pat was his versatility," said former coach Bruce Erickson. "If you needed him in the front line, he was the best forward. If you needed a playmaker, he was the most creative passer. If you needed him to defend he was the best defender. No matter where he played, he was usually the best at this position."

Lauer finished a remarkable career in 1993. That year he was named the NAIA District 14 Player of the Year, a first team All-America member. He was also the first Viterbo soccer player ever invited to play in the Senior Bowl.

When his career came to an end, he had scored more goals (36) than all but two players in Viterbo soccer history. He was also second all-time in career assists (42). He managed 114 points in only three-years at Viterbo, leaving school as one of only three players to score triple-digits in a career. During his sophomore and junior seasons, Lauer earned NAIA All-America Honorable Mention status once, NAIA All-Area twice, and earned MCC second team honors in 1992.

But outside of his numbers, Lauer brought vital intangibles to V-Hawk soccer, namely tenacity, energy, and a tremendous work ethic. While there is no statistical measure for these attributes, there was plenty of team success. With Pat on the field, the V-Hawks went 46-11-6, and finished every season ranked among the top 25 in the NAIA national poll. In his three seasons, Lauer and the V-Hawks captured three District 14 titles and won two MCC crowns.

"He did everything well; pass, score, defend," said Erickson. "Pat has probably been the best all-around soccer player our program has ever seen."