The men aren’t the only ones preparing for battle against the Gauchos. The women’s soccer players are readying themselves for their away game in Santa Barbara, also.
Word has spread through campus — the Gauchos are coming to Cal Poly. With “Buck the Gauchos” shirts being sold throughout the week and residence halls planning game day events, the campus is buzzing with the upcoming men’s soccer game against rival UC Santa Barbara.
But the men aren’t the only ones preparing for battle against the Gauchos. The women’s soccer players are readying themselves for their away game in Santa Barbara, also.
The women’s soccer team will travel to Santa Barbara Friday for their penultimate game of the season. After winning two games this past weekend, the women’s team is prepared for the matchup.
“We have the Blue-Green rivalry, but I think Santa Barbara is a good team and we are a good team and I know they are up top in conference too,” center back Jordan Ansara said. “I know it’s going to be a tough game, but I think we are ready. Each game is a new game and I think if we take it to them strong we definitely have a chance for the win.”
Following the high from their four-game winning streak, the team isn’t just sitting back to relax. Instead, they were preparing themselves physically and mentally with practices all week long, as well as mentally preparing themselves.
This past weekend not only contributed to the Mustangs’ winning streak, but also brought recognition to one of their players. Ansara was recognized as a national scholar athlete, one of 17 players to be chosen as a national Primetime Performer of the Week by CollegeSoccer360.com (http://www.collegesoccer360.com/awards/Primetime_2013_D1W_week9.html).
“It was definitely surprising and caught me off guard,” Ansara said. “It’s amazing and I am grateful for whoever put in the word and is scouting, especially for a center back because a lot of the glory goes to the forwards who score and we don’t really have stats like that.”
Ansara started playing for Cal Poly as a freshman, but she is no rookie when it comes to soccer. She began playing on a recreational team in third grade, and moved up to a club team in fifth. During her first year at Cal Poly, Ansara played outside back — the same position she held in high school — before securing her current position as center back this year.
With a record of 5-1 in conference, the women’s team is currently in first place in the Big West.
“If we gave it our all and gave our heart, then that’s how I want to finish the season.” Ansara said. “No matter what the score is.”