Leonardo Gujardo/Vaquero Radio
With much teamwork and drive to secure a victory, the UTRGV Women’s Soccer Team has been on the field practicing to compete in their next conference game this week.
As of Friday, the Vaqueros had a 6-4-4 overall record and a 2-1-3 score in conference play.
Following UTRGV’s 1-0 win against the University of the Incarnate Word Cardinals Oct. 11, head coach Mark Foster spoke on the mentality the team needs to maintain going into the game against Southeastern Louisiana University Lions.
“We typically try to focus on being the best version of ourselves,” Foster said. “That’s usually how we start every conversation. We put on a really good run. We’ve only lost one conference game, so we aren’t gonna overreact to that game. Our performances this season [has] been really good, the best since I’ve been this coach.” (00:46.74)
He said the Vaqueros will not change their field strategies but will focus on what has been helping them.
“We’re not gonna change, and at this point, we’re gonna focus on the things that have been going well for us,” Foster said. “And then trying to improve and tweak a few little things here and there, but nothing major at this point.
“I think it’s too late in the season for that. As coaches, we look at formations and we’ll look at little things and think, ‘Well if they do this, how will we react?’”
He explained how the Vaqueros will adapt to playing on the field of another university.
“I would imagine they’ll try to come out and put us on the back foot, and try to make home field advantage count,” he said. “We’re gonna have to adjust playing on the field, different size, different surface [and] being on the road, all those things.”
Freshman forward Jordan Matthews described her mentality going into a game.
“I come in with just confidence and growth on my mistakes that I’ve made,” Matthews said. “Just keep pushing and … I feel like that’s where I’m more successful, on the field and off the field as well. Just keep working towards my one main goal, and that is to help make an impact on the team and help get wins.”
Freshman goalkeeper Kamila Aguilar explained how she maintains composure during a match.
“If I get scored on then it’s just, like, ‘OK, I’m going to get the next one,’” Aguilar said. “I’ll just put it behind me, and try not to let it affect me because if it were to affect me, then I wouldn’t do so good the rest of the game.”
The UTRGV Women’s Soccer Team will be going head to head against the SLU Lions at 6 p.m. Friday in Hammond, Louisiana.
