Soccer Freshmen Enjoying Friendly Transition
September 18, 2006 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 18, 2006
By: Brandon Hughes
Fall semesters bring change to every college campus. Classes resume in every building, cooler wind slowly begins to circle the air, and a seemingly increasing number of freshmen pile in to each school.
The Texas Tech soccer team can attest to the amount of freshmen this year. On a roster that includes 24 girls, only one of them is a senior, and a surprising 15 are freshmen.
These freshmen, though, for the most part, are familiar with each other. Over half a dozen of the freshmen girls played club soccer either with or against each other in high school. Also, all but two of the incoming freshmen are from the Lone Star State.
No matter whether it's the classroom or the playing field, making the transition from high school to college can be challenging.
Freshman Jennifer Kammerer said it is a higher level of soccer, but she's very fortunate to have made the move with such familiar faces.
"It definitely made things easier because we're used to playing either with each other or against each other, but at the same time it was really different because there are other players we haven't played with," Kammerer said.
Kammerer said she wants to be part of something special. She said that is why she came to Tech. She wanted to be part of a rebuilding program, and not one that has already had its successes.
Freshmen Peyton Pulaski echoed Kammerer's sentiments. She said her and the other freshmen came in wanting to improve the team as much as they could.
This has been the start of a special year for the Tech soccer team. With the team adopting a new motto combined with an increase in fan support, the program appears to be rejuvenated.
"It's been awesome because we've had more fans than we've ever had," Pulaski said. "We've already improved from last year."
"We've had all these new things and we've definitely been getting a lot of support and I think it's helping out a lot."
Pulaski played high school soccer and club soccer with fellow teammate Zhaleh Rezaie. Rezaie is a freshmen midfielder who comes highly touted from Plano, Texas.
Rezaie was a two-time NSCAA All-American honoree, the 2005 District 5A MVP and 2005 Texas State Player of the Year in high school last year.
Rezaie said she thought the soccer team's recruiting class was great and said team chemistry is really strong. She also said she is a very intense player and has enjoyed the transition from high school and club soccer to Tech.
Just like all the other girls, Rezaie is very excited about this year's team and the newly refined attitude around R.P. Fuller Stadium.
"It's such an honor to be a part of this new tradition that we're starting," Rezaie said. "It's very exciting and although I didn't know what to expect, it's all coming together. The intensity on the field is so much greater than what it was."
After a 4-4 mark in non-conference action, the Red Raiders start conference play this weekend as they host the University of Texas on Friday and Texas A&M on Sunday.
