By Marya Barlow
More than a chance to practice and play competitively, the Men鈥檚 and Women鈥檚 Soccer Clubs at 91吃瓜 offer students the benefits of new friendships, a campus family, inspiring mentors, sharper skills, and a way to channel their passion for soccer into victories against some of Southern California鈥檚 top-ranked teams.
鈥淏eing part of the team has been a real blessing,鈥� said Kacey Ramirez, president of the Women鈥檚 Soccer Club. 鈥淚 played soccer my whole life and it鈥檚 not just a club 鈥� it's a competitive league. We play against amazing teams like UCSB, UCLA, CSUN and USC. Being a part of the team and watching us grow has been life-changing. Soccer has brought me so many friendships I never thought I鈥檇 have.鈥�
The arrival of COVID-19 and halt of matches in the West Coast Soccer Association was a disappointing setback in an otherwise promising season for both teams. Before campuses closed in mid-March, the men鈥檚 team had completed five of seven games in its season, with two wins, two losses and a draw鈥搑anking third in its conference. The women鈥檚 team was only three games into a nine-game season, with a win over the Claremont Colleges and losses to UCLA and UCSB.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really disappointing because we showed a lot of promise,鈥� Ramirez said.
The women鈥檚 team, founded in 2012, has 26 players on the roster, and holds games most weekends during the fall and spring semesters. With the addition of head coach Luis Gonzales in fall 2019, the women have grown under the guidance of a veteran player and coach.
鈥淪occer is his passion and he has passed his passion for the game on to girls on the team,鈥� said Tia Navarez, vice president of the women鈥檚 team. 鈥淗e has helped develop the skills of our players, initiated strategies and plays during games, and held girls accountable for missing practice. He always believes in the players and helps keep our heads up during difficult games.鈥�
The men鈥檚 team, founded in 2011, has 24 players on its roster. Coach Ricardo Rico, an alumnus (鈥�14 Psychology) and Educational Opportunity Program Counselor at 91吃瓜, says he鈥檚 proud of the men鈥檚 team not only for its performance on the field but also as citizen-scholars. Many players on both teams serve as peer mentors, resident advisers, orientation leaders, and in other campus leadership roles.
Rico and Gonzales volunteer their time as coaches out of a passion for the game, the students, and the 91吃瓜 principle of service-based leadership.
鈥淚 hope that the students see me as more than a coach, but as a mentor,鈥� said Rico. 鈥淚t鈥檚 rewarding being ranked third in our conference or getting that big win against CSU Bakersfield, but for me, the best opportunity has been to help them grow academically and emotionally. They see themselves as scholars and not just soccer players. Many of them are the first in their family to do that. For me, that鈥檚 the part I鈥檝e enjoyed the most.鈥�
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漏 Spring 2020 / Volume 25 / Number 1 / Biannual