back in new mexico hangin with some younger players

So we arrived back in New Mexico thoroughly exhausted from our tournament in Southern California, but we had just enough energy to set up a clinic for some inner-city kids that attended a local after school community center. A couple of the girls on the team have been helping out with the center all semester as part of an internship class at UNM. This program helps kids whose families can't afford day care while parents are at work.

It was so rewarding to teach these kids a few things about soccer, although most of them knew a thing or two. About 10 girls from the team helped set up a day camp for the kids complete with everything from exercises in dribbling the ball, to fun games like steal the bacon. All ages were laughing and having fun, and by the end of the clinic every kid was given a Popsicle to cool off. It was such a great day and I know the kids had a lot of fun. Community projects like this one is one of the best things about playing on a college team.

the final match

Sunday the team awoke in Redondo Beach instead of Temecula to play our fourth and final game in only three days. This final team is a semi-professional team based in Los Angeles, California which includes a roster stacked with ex-pac 10 college players and even professional soccer players as well. Legs heavy and brains taxed, we took the field to start our final game, while these talented girls were playing for the first time all weekend.
We stayed up with them for the first 10 minutes, but as that tenth minute came to a close, the girls seemed to progressively slow down, despite eager legs. The schedule had depleted all of our energy by this point, but we kept fighting.
Almost 35 minutes into the first half, the Ajax girls finally put one away against us off of a corner kick. It was a beautifully run play in which one player checked to the corner only to dummy the ball to the top of the box, where another girl easily finished on frame with her left foot, upper-v.
Second half began and the Ajax girls scored another goal. We were just barely breathing and moving at this point, however, we finished the game.
Even though this game was not a win for us, it was an honor to play alongside girls who made it to the professional league. The talent, skill, and understanding of team role were inspiring and a true learning experience for our young team. Overall, we did not walk away from our trip to California with four wins, but we did walk away with invaluable experience and a new understanding of what it takes to win.

the comeback queens

Our third game was a true test of our ability to come together as a team. The previous loss only a couple of hours before our game against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo loomed over the team. This game would come to be a decisive moment for the team.
Muscular and mental fatigue was obvious even in our warm up, however, the girls kept a positive attitude. With the first sprint, I felt the buildup of lactic acid release with every step. The first few minutes looked as though we were going to have a repeat of the Santa Barbara game, until Zaneta broke away from the defender and slipped a ball just under the goal keeper’s hands. The Lobos had scored their first goal of the weekend, and at this moment, it seemed a weight was lifted from the UNM girls shoulders. Now, we began to settle down as a team, and play like we had practiced all spring.
Ten more minutes passed of evenly matched play passed until a simple cross just over half-field from one outside half back to the opposite outside half back led to a beautiful 30 yard goal by Jael.
The team left the field exhausted and proud of not only our win, but also our ability to turn our attitudes around so quickly after a devastating loss to a triumphant win.

game 2: a tough loss

After a short night of rest, it was time the next morning to play our second game in 12 hours. This time the opponent was University of California, Santa Barbara. The girls seemed exhausted already, but we had to find a way to push through this game.
As the first whistle was blown, the game was evenly matched. We and Santa Barbara both were able to have some successful attacks, however no goals were scored. After half-time, we began to show signs of sluggishness. The fatigue of the overnight trip, the lack of sleep, and the 90 game only a few hours the night before was wearing on the girls and me. UCSB began passing around us, while we futilely chased. The Lobos lost our connection on the field; communication dropped off and we relied solely on individuals to survive. This sort of play is not sustainable without some consequence, and the consequence was a shot on goal for The Guachos, and a goals against for the Lobos. Coach Kit Vela made some changes—substitutions, and positional changes, which only resulted in another goal for Santa Barbara. Finally, with nine young freshmen on the field, a third and final goal was scored. Our fate was sealed with the final whistle, but the worst was yet to come.
As if losing 3-0 was not a harsh enough lesson for the team, we were reprimanded for 40 minutes post-game about our lack of effort and fitness. However, I do not think that this game was the result of a deficiency of either. I believe that the travel schedule had taken a toll on the girls, and we were starving for practical coaching which addressed our lack of shape as a team.

women's soccer goes to california!

Charter bus: $2500. Dinner for 32 soccer players: $980. Playing in the Temecula College Classic: priceless. This was exactly the experience that I and my 25 fellow teammates on University of New Mexico Women’s soccer team were fortunate enough to be a part of this past weekend. This weekend all 26 members of the Lady Lobos piled into one charter bus to travel for 14 long hours to play four games in three days.
The weekend kicked off with a restless night spent traveling across New Mexico, Arizona and California and an inspiring movie, The Blindside. The team snacked, laughed and tried to get some sleep knowing that we had a long weekend ahead of us. After arriving at our Hampton Inn, we got a few hours of real shut eye in our hotel beds, which felt like heaven after squirming on a bus floor all night. After a taste of rest, it was time to do what the team traveled to do: play soccer.
Our first opponent was a nationally ranked team from Colorado. As Rachel and I approached the referee to call the coin toss, he asked both our team and Denver how our trips in were. The captain from Colorado’s team replied, “There was a little turbulence, but it wasn’t bad.” At this point, my blood boiled just a little bit. I would have killed for “a little turbulence” as opposed to a cramped body and a restless night. After the coin toss, we approached the huddle and I explained to the team that Denver was a little tired because of their rough, turbulent trip. The girls seemed to feel the same way that I did and the comment fueled us into kickoff.
Our first game saw only a 0-0 tie, but we played with passion and drive, not to mention a chip on our shoulder from travel accommodation jealousy.