The UTA men’s and women’s soccer clubs split into separate lines, focusing on footwork, drills and shaping team chemistry. Both clubs spent the last few weeks growing their rosters and welcoming newcomers.
Both teams compete in the Texas North Division under the Texas Collegiate Soccer League.
The UTA Women’s Soccer Club kicks off their fall 2024 campaign Sept. 7 against Tarleton State University. The seven-game schedule features four home games at the Campus Recreation Fields Complex. The men will kick off their season Sept. 7 against Oklahoma State University.
Games are free admission and the clubs are looking for all the support they can receive.
The women’s club remains optimistic after an underwhelming season last year and returning players look to lead the club in a positive direction.
Architect sophomore Haylee McCall is looking forward to the team’s match against Tarleton, a team that is evenly matched against UTA each time they play.
“I don't think it’s any sort of rivalry, I think it’s just like both teams are equally skilled,” she said. “We’re happy to play each other.”
This men’s team has depth in every position and everyone is excited to be there, alumni and assistant coach Talal Alrababah said. There are no words to express the joy and excitement around the team, he added.
“We're getting students that are starting to realize what it means to play for UTA, to represent everything that UTA is about,” Alrababah said. “Season after season, we're just getting better and better, and we're trying to build something for the future. There should be a legacy and this is what we're trying to build. A legacy.”
Alrababah believes this will be the club's best season yet. The players are approaching the season in a serious manner, making sure voluntary practice fits into their schedules.
Alrababah said the key to success is attitude. If you don’t have a good attitude, it will end up affecting all other 10 players and on the pitch. If the team doesn’t have a great foundation, it will end up crumbling down when you least expect it, he added.
Information systems junior and team secretary Eduardo Hernandez mentioned that team chemistry will lead to success.
“As a team we make sure to help out the younger players who are coming in,” Hernandez said. “The older guys are always helping out the newer guys and we're getting them mixed in with us.”
You can be a team and have a stacked roster, but if you’re not passionate then what are you there for, Hernandez said.
Finding out how passionate the club was and discovering it was fighting for something deeper than just soccer is what drove Hernandez to join the soccer club.
McCall has played soccer since she was four and said the UTA club was a good fit for her.
“I honestly just wanted to find somewhere to play,” she said. “It’s just something that fits into my life and my personality.”
After last season's underperformance, McCall emphasized that the team wants things to be different this year. The team is committed to stepping up at practice and holding each other accountable for their mistakes. Team bonding is viewed as a key factor in the team's success.
“I think that our first step is really like unity and forming more of a team,” McCall said. “Last year, like I said, we had a lot of division between the two teams.”
There will also be a familiar face stepping back in as head coach. McCall said she hopes that he’ll be able to formulate the team back to how they used to be.
Soccer at UTA isn’t part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association but the culture and love for the sport keeps the team united. Students have to juggle homework, classes and jobs outside of UTA but are always willing to help each other out.
“Learning how to work with people, even new people on the fly. I think it’s so important. Just building together, like in skill and practicing,” McCall said. “Just passing drills and things like that, so we can move together on the field instead of just one person having to feel like they’re taking all the work on themselves.”
Alrababah has played soccer since he was in his home country, Qatar, and was excited to find out that UTA had a club when he arrived.
This team wants all the support they can get from students because they believe they can build a legacy at UTA.
After struggling with funds, Hernandez is focused on getting the team new jerseys this season after reusing their old jerseys last season.
“It was really funny because our jerseys that we went with, we were taping our numbers on there,” Hernandez said.
@Stephanie_q03
