Women's Soccer 8/29/2012 5:29:00 PM

Women’s Soccer Opens With #16 Central Oklahoma

Alyssa Perez vs. Monterrey Tech

LAREDO, TX - With 16 new players on the roster and a rejuvenated spirit, the Texas A&M International University Women’s Soccer team is set to take the pitch this weekend in their first regular season game of the year. On Sunday the Dustdevils head to San Antonio to face one of the most difficult opponents they will face all season, no. 16 University of Central Oklahoma.

“UCO is a team that is comparable to some of the top teams in our conference,” said Coach Arias. “They play with three girls up top which creates plenty of opportunities. We are going to have to remain disciplined to make sure that we have enough players back when they are attacking.”

Last time TAMIU faced UCO they were on the wrong end of a 4-0 decision, but according to Head Coach Claudio Arias this is a new team with a new attitude.

“There is no doubt that we are better this year. Our biggest strength is going to be our level of fitness and our depth. Right now we have two players at each position that we trust and we plan to use that to our advantage by rotating quite a bit. We are not going into this game with the mindset of “Let’s get close” we are going to win.”

When the 2012 team took the pitch for their first practice of the year, they decided on a new theme for the season.
“We don’t have to prove anything to anyone but ourselves,” said Coach Arias. “Teams are going to expect the same old TAMIU when they come up against us and that will work to our advantage. They will expect to walk all over us, but we will strike first and set the pace.”

In their final exhibition game of the season last weekend, the Dustdevils dropped a 1-0 decision to visiting Monterrey Tech. It was a vast improvement from last season when the team was drubbed 6-0.

“Monterrey Tech was a quality opponent,” said Coach Arias. “If we can get the same kind of performance out of our girls against Central Oklahoma, we should be in a goo d position.”

Regardless of the outcome of the game versus UCO on Sunday, Coach Arias says facing such a worthy opponent will provide a better picture of where the girl’s team stands both regionally and nationally.

“We are facing that can compete at the national level. If we have a good performance it will show our girls that we are ready to take on anyone in our conference. It will also demonstrate to the coaching staff which players on our team are ready to step up and play in high pressure situations.”

The women’s team gets underway on Sunday in San Antonio at noon at the Don Hardin Athletic Complex off of loop 410.

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