2008 Woodie Awards
French student plays for SBU
Soccer player shares international experiences
Inga Locke
Issue date: 3/9/07 Section: In the Spotlight
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Lechat was born in Le Mans, France Sept. 13, 1982. Lechat lived in Le Mans until she was 12 years old. In 1994, she moved to a house her parents designed outside of Le Mans.
Lechat was raised with an older brother Alexander, 30, and her twin sister, Sophie. Lechat's father works in the post office, and her mother is a private nurse.
"I love to travel, and do whenever I can and have the money to," said Lechat.
Lechat has been to the United States, Mexico, Egypt and every country in Europe. After she graduated from high school in 2001, her parents gave her the gift of a year off to do whatever she wanted. She chose to travel, and during that year went to Pocatello, Idaho as well as Mexico, the Netherlands and England.
When her year was up, she returned to France and joined her father, working at the post office for two years.
In 2004, Lechat attended Lassen Community College in California, playing soccer for current SBU Women's Soccer Head Coach Benjamin Wade. After playing for a year, she returned to France and worked for another year at the post office.
In January of 2006, Lechat accepted Wade's offer to come play soccer at SBU.
Lechat started playing soccer when she was six years old because she and her twin were very energetic children. France does not have many opportunities for female athletes, even as children. Lachet plays soccer because it has opened the opportunity for her to receive a better education. She is happy to be learning a new language as well as a new culture.
"My parents wanted us all to learn at least two languages," said Lachet, who speaks English, French and Spanish.
She has studied Spanish since she was in middle school, and has used her Spanish both in Mexico and here at SBU with various Hispanic friends.
Scheduled to graduate in 2009, Lechat is a Business Administration and Accounting major. She does not know where she will go after she graduates, but she knows that she would like to work for an international company so that she can travel the world while she works.
In her free time, Lechat does homework, watches movies and hangs out with her friends and teammates. Lechat also works in Mellers Dining Commons as well as at the Hammons Center for Facilities Excellence (the physical plant).
"[The physical plant] is like a man's job," said Lechat.
Lechat has several nicknames. Her teammates call her "Grandma" because she is the oldest. In Mellers, she is referred to as "French." She is also called "Audette" by others.
Lechat is still very energetic and has found a way to use that energy to benefit her. She is a hard worker and knows how to succeed, even in a country where the culture and language are different.
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