Set your TV channel now!
Semi-finals for the NCAA Division I Women’s College Cup kick off at 6 p.m. this Friday inside CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The championship game is slated to follow on Monday at 7 p.m. All will be shown live on ESPNU.
First up will be Florida State as they take on TCU. Immediately afterward, Stanford will line up against Duke. The winner of each will face off in Monday’s game.
However, getting to this level of competition did not begin when these women entered college. In fact, for most, it began as soon as they learned to walk. Senior Jessi Cruz is among those. “I decided to join soccer because I’ve always had a passion for it as a little girl. And,” she continues, “my dad, brother, and uncles are very big on soccer. I just followed in their footsteps!”
As team captain for three consecutive years, her efforts have clearly paid off in high school. “Every single time I got chosen,” she confides, “I felt so much joy to know that I could be a teacher once again and be there for my girls for any question or help they might need.”
Establishing a bond with teammates is essential to how well the team plays together. “I believe that building that bond with my girls made my personal high school soccer experience ten times better than it was going to be,” Cruz confides. Her experiences thus far have convinced this star athlete to continue on at college.
“I am currently committed to go play at Marian University’s Ancilla College,” Cruz states enthusiastically. “I feel very welcomed by MUAC and Coach Weiss,” she adds. “Coach Weiss is willing to give many opportunities!
In typical pyramid style, the number the opportunities for athletes to move on from high school programs to college ones becomes smaller. However, Cruz notes that this is no reason to avoid joining a team before that day comes. “I was not going to continue playing for that reason,” she explains. “I wanted to focus on my nursing career…but things very much changed! And, for me, MUAC is the place for that!”
Had she not received an offer from MUAC, Cruz would still be thankful for the many beneficial elements soccer offers. From a medical standpoint, joining soccer offers wide ranges of physical, mental, and social benefits. It also improves cardiovascular health, endurance, coordination, and balance while also fostering teamwork, discipline, problem solving skills, and confidence.
The Australian website Better Health states, “As play during soccer is continuous, soccer is great for fitness and cardiovascular health. People of various ages and skill levels can participate in soccer, with those various sizes being able to do equally well. Soccer helps release mood-boosting endorphins through exercise and lowering stress hormones like cortisol, but for emotional benefits it helps boost self-confidence, provides a mental escape, encourages emotional control, and enhances cognitive functions.”
Cruz couldn’t agree more. And, although she does not know where the game will lead her in four years, she knows right where she will be at 6 p.m. this Friday: Watching the Women’s Soccer Semi-Finals.
Physical Benefits:
- Improves cardiovascular health
- Builds muscle strength
- Increases endurance
- Aids in weight management
- Strengthens bones
- Enhances coordination and agility
Mental and Social Benefits:
- Boosts confidence
- Reduces stress and anxiety
- Improves concentration and focus
- Fosters teamwork and social skills
- Teaches resilience
