On a scorching August afternoon head coach Oliver Germond and his assistant coach Drew Mattos prepared the Lady Rams, Fresno City College’s Women’s Soccer team, for another season of high expectations and performance, not only on the field but in the classroom as well.
Last year the Lady Rams ranked fourth in the California Community College 2007 Soccer Statewide Standings for women. Assistant coach Mattos said, “We only focus on the game right in front of us”, and Head Coach Germond continued by saying, “we cover up the rest of the games for the season and just focus on what’s next.”
The team is unique because there are no team captains, instead the whole team takes ownership and responsibility. During the coin toss, the entire team goes out to midfield while other teams may have only two to three players representing them.
Coach Germond commented on the Lady Ram’s accomplishments in terms of self-discipline, team work, team spirit, and most importantly academics. Half of the players carried a 3.0 G.P.A or higher last season and three former team members from the 2006-2007 seasons wrapped up their final semester here at Fresno City College.
Katy Harris, who played defense, transferred to California Baptist University, Meaghan Cochran, who played forward, transferred to the University of Hawaii at Hilo, and Lena Tovar, who played midfield, transferred to Fresno Pacific University.
Even though saying goodbye for the girls may be one of the hardest obstacles to face, so is pushing yourself to achieve and stay on top of your priorities and ambitions in life. These ladies practice each day in the blazing summer heat to accomplish the many goals they have set out for.
This year’s team consists of 23 members; 12 freshmen and 11 sophomores, all eager to get the season kicked off the right way and go even further than last season. Returning right defender Jessica Acevedo, a kinesiology major, is very excited about the start of a new season and says, “a great success we can expect”.
Along with the other girls, Acevedo is one of the many team members that encourages being successful in the classroom along with being just as successful on the field. Their first game was on Wednesday, August 27, against Cosumnes River in Sacramento California; the girls came very close to a winning the season’s first game. The final score was Fresno City College 1, Cosumnes River 2.
Come out and join the lady Rams for their first home game against Sierra on September 4, at 4 p.m. at Radcliffe Stadium.
For more information on supporting, sponsoring or up and coming games/events please visit the FCC women’s Soccer team at www.fresnocitycollege.edu under athletics.
