by Riley Bauling
Daily Lobo
The UNM women's soccer team might need a couple more benches for the sidelines this season.
With 22 returning letterwinners and nine newcomers, head coach Kit Vela has assembled the largest team in the 13-year history of the program.
With such a large team, Vela said she has a lot of players who can learn.
"No matter who I put on the field, they are going to be competitive," she said. "We gave a lot of local kids an opportunity, and with these players, we have great athletes."
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The team went 3-12-4 in the 2003 season, but Vela said not only did eight of those games go into overtime, but the team was rife with inexperience.
"We had no seniors on the field most of the time," Vela said. "We had six to seven freshmen on the field, and they are not big-name players. But they were good players and great athletes."
Those freshmen played a lot last year and now have experience, she said.
"They are sophomores this year, and because of that experience, we won't be throwing the freshmen to the dogs this year," Vela said.
The Lobos will find out quickly how prepared their young team is for another tough season. They have a season-opener against a capable Cincinnati team followed by a battle against a Purdue team that made it to the Sweet 16 last year. In Mountain West Conference play, UNM faces Brigham Young and Utah, both top-25 teams last season.
"We have a brutal schedule," Vela said. "It's going to get us ready for conference, and I think we will surprise the conference. But in saying that, our conference is very strong. From top to bottom, anybody can beat anybody."
While the Lobos may not have the top names in women's college soccer, Vela is confident if her team plays together, they are capable of anything.
"Our goal this season is to play as a unit," Vela said. "We want good team chemistry."
She said last year's team was very good, but didn't have good chemistry. A few players, who are now gone, thought they were above the system, Vela said.
"They left for whatever reason, and now we have 31 players who kick the heck out of each other on the field, but get along really well off it," Vela said. "And now, even though we may be a team of no-name players, so to speak, I think a team of unified players can beat a team of individuals."
With 31 players eager for field time, Vela has no idea how this season will turn out.
"The fans are going to find an exciting team," Vela said. "As for a prediction on how we'll do, I have no idea what is going to happen."
