1974 “Cactus” comment about Soccer

Mark Stinson’s graphic works were visionary in 1974 while he was a student at UT. In the “hand out” graphic below, Mark captures for the “Cactus” all the obstacles in one depiction of what women had to overcome to gain equal financial footing with the men. Great country songwriters can tell a whole story in one sentence. Mark does so with graphic art.

UNLIKE TEXAS BASKETBALL, FOOTBALL, TRACK, AND BASEBALL THERE ARE VERY FEW BOOKS DEDICATED TO LONGHORN WOMEN’S SOCCER. I HOPE IN THE FUTURE THIS SITE CAN ADD SOME HISTORICAL INSIGHT AND TELL THE COMPELLING STORY OF LONGHORN SOCCER.  

A condensed bullet point history of Texas Longhorn Soccer follows. Please go to the “credit” section of this website to view books you can purchase from many fine book stores about Texas Longhorn Sports, or please visit the official University of Texas Longhorn site Texassports.com for more information. 

1976

 1993 Women’s UT Soccer – Coach Zobrist – 8-8-2

On Sept. 3, 1993 , 25 women and their 23-year old coach, graduate student Eric Zobrist made history as they competed in the first Longhorn women’s varsity soccer game against Incarnate Word. Rachel Sanders assist Monica Moore for the first score for U.T. Division I women’s soccer. The horns season led to a 3rd seed at the Texas women’s Intercollegiate Club Conference tournament. Texas finished 2nd to North Texas.

After competing as a club for several years, the soccer team gained varsity status this year. The team finished second at the TWISCC playoffs with Monica Moore, making the All-conference team.

. Since the inception of Women’s soccer in 1993 thru 2014 The Lady Longhorns have :

• made 11 appearances in the NCAA Tournament. The Longhorns sport a 7-11-1 (.395) record during NCAA postseason action;

• a winning percentage is .584

• have ranked in the top 20 5 times (2002,2004,2006,2007, and 2008.)

• advanced to NCAA Tournament Round of 16 three times (2004, 2006, and 2007);

• advanced to the NCAA Tournament Second Round five times (2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2014);

• Claimed three conference championships. 

• UT is the lone current member of the Big 12 to have qualified for the league’s postseason tournament each year;

• four players drafted into Women’s Professional Soccer, three of them as top-25 selections (Kasey Moore/15th/2008, Stephanie Logterman/20th/2008, Jill Gilbeau/22nd/2008, Kelly Wilson/44th/2004).

https://www.texaslsn.org/coach-dang-pibulvech-womens-soccer-1

1994-1998- 40-50-3 record  Coach Dang Pibulvech



Soccer games were located at Frank Denius Field

First Division I soccer contest was against Pepperdine  with Heather Bethard scoring the first goal

1994 Coach Dang Pibulvech 9-7-2



TOP OF THE CHARTS

Jill Cook records the first Division I assist against Texas Tech.

Jaime Strong holds the career record for saves at 473. Jaime Strong records her seventh shutout of the 1994 season with a 4-0 win over Arizona on Oct. 30 to set the school single-season record for shutouts.

1995 Coach Dang Pibulvech 7-14

This was the first year for the new soccer complex. This was also Texas first full season as a Division I soccer team.

The team entered 1995 with momentum and great expectations but it was a rollercoaster ride.

Pibulvech drums up interest in women’s volleyball by reaching out to the Texas women’s basketball and volleyball fan clubs.  The goal was to set the Horn soccer team on their own course for fan support. Pibulvech knew it would take time to build the soccer brand. It took 20 years before women’s basketball, the king of women’s sports in attendance, began to draw respectable crowds.

Parade All-American Carol Finch from Houston left Maryland soccer to return to Texas and play for the Longhorns. As a sophomore, she led the team in scoring and made the All-tournament team in the Adidas Women’s Soccer Cup.

Pibulvech strategy was to play the best teams to prepare for the playoffs.  This is the last year of the SWC.  

Jill Cook holds the record for the fastest score to start a game at 10 seconds.

Carol Finch is one of three players who are tied for the Texas record for four scores in one game. 

Jaime Strong sets a school-record 20 saves against Minnesota. Strong holds the UT career record for saves with 473 over her four seasons on the Forty Acres. (no picture)

1996 Coach Dang Pibulvech 8-10-2

1996-  A breakthrough year that fell apart after the Horn soccer team made the top 20 for the first time.  They were within a foot here or thereof having an exceptional year. An open net missed a bad bounce, a missed connection, an errant pass cost games. The Horns finished the season tied for 5th in the Big 12.

Women’s soccer attendance is on the rise because of more scholarships, expanded playoff fields, and automatic bids. 

This Team Holds The Seasonal Record At Texas For Most saves (196) 

Sarah Trombley brings the team together.  Pibulvech says she is the glue that holds us together.  She is one of only two players that has played every minute this season.   

Texas sets single-game records for points (36), goals (12), assists (12) and largest margin of victory in a 12-0 win over Pittsburgh.

Carol Finch sets the UT single-game record with four goals in the Longhorns’ victory over the Panthers.

1997 Coach Dang Pibulvech 10 -10

The team reaches the semi’s in the Big 12 tournament play for the first time. .  Texas ties with Baylor for 3rd place in conference play.  This year for the first time the Horns won 10 games.

Rachael Safirstein is the first Texas player to be named to Soccer America’s National Team of the Week. 

Alanna Makinano is the first Longhorns player to be named a Big 12 Conference Player of the Week. 

Jaime Strong holds the career goal saves (473)

1998 Coach Dang Pibulvech  6-9-3 pending info

Tied for 4th in the conference and the #4 seed at the Big 12 conference. This was Coach Pibulvech’s last year at Texas. His 5 year record was 40-50-7

Coach Chris Petrucelli 1999- 2010

Texas wants to be part of the fastest-growing sport in America so they paid big bucks and built a new stadium and a new coach to compete nationally. When hired Coach Petrucelli’s record was impressive with 175 wins, 22 losses, and 10 ties. Second, among NCAA Division I soccer coaches. He built Notre Dame into a national champion.

Coach Petrucelli”

• As of 2005 Coach Petrucelli was 7th in all-time coaching wins,

• Two time Coach of the year 1994 and 1995 at Notre Dame,

• 165-88-26 record

1999- 8-9-2 record   Coach Chris Petrucelli

The new stadium helped the Horns attendance increase from a few to many with Texas ranked as #20 in national attendance in 1999.   The team place 4th in the conference and seeded 5th at the Big 12 tournament.   

The first game in the new stadium was a 1-0 victory in August of 1999 against Oklahoma. Nicole Ramirez made the first goal.

Cami Varnadore is the first UT defensive player to earn a Big 12 Conference Player of the Week honor (no picture). 

Topping the Charts 1999

Captain Cami Varnadore leads the team this year.

2000- 12- 7 record Coach Chris Petrucelli pending

Kati McBain is Big 12 Freshman of the Year and All-Central Division. She is the first Texas player to be named the Big 12 Conference’s Rookie of the Year. 

Kylee Wosnuk is the first Longhorns Player to earn a Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honor. Kylee Wosnuk is the key reason the best soccer season was in 2000. With a 7-3 mark in the Big 12. The team finished 3rd in the Big 12 which was the highest finish in school history. Coach Petrucelli said that Kylee was the most dynamic player on the team. She tied for the team lead in goals, was second in assists, second in points, 4th in shots, and first in shots on goal.  The team was 6th nationally in average home attendance.

2001-  14-6 –  Coach Chris Petrucelli pending

In 2001 Texas landed the counry’’s #3 recruiting class and led the nation in home attendance (1,924).  Texas played 7 games against ranked foes but lost most of the games.

Texas records its first victory in Big 12 play with a 3-2 win over Colorado. 

Coach Petrucelli is Big 12 Coach of the Year

Texas secures its first-ever Big 12 Conference Championship. 

U.T. signs 7 acclaimed soccer players.  Texas placed second in the Big 12 tournament. The #7 Longhorn soccer team makes its first appearance in the NCAA soccer tournament.

The Aggies won the tournament championship but the Horns won the Big 12 championship. A & M beat Texas for the 11th time in a row.  Lara Kram makes the first team All-Big 12 team and is the MVP on defense in the tournament.   

This year the team had an 11 game winning streak and were undefeated in conference play.   Lerrin Biggers’s defensive play gets her selected to the Soccer America’s team of the week.

Soccer Honors in 2001 are below – more information to follow.

Kristen Teter all Big 12 Tournament

2001-2002-   15-5-1 record    Coach Chris Petrucelli 

In preseason Texas was ranked #8 with 11 returning starters.

In 2002 nationally Soccer attendance continues to lag behind.   In 1990 there were only 82 Division I Universities that fielded women’s teams. In 2002 participation was up but fan attendance still lags. Soccer in America was still more a participatory sport than a spectator sport. The sport was still not accepted in America sports culture.  Winning the 1999 World cup has helped but…..  T.V. ratings in 2002 were barely on the T.V. radar screen. It will take T.V. money and fan enthusiasm to enhance the credibility of the sport.

Ranked 14 nationally.

A pair of Kelly’s beats a pair of A’s. Kelly Wilson and Kelly McDonald are two to the best forwards in the nation. In 2002 the Kelly produced almost ½ of the seasons total .

Kelly Wilson was the Big 12 rookie of the year out of Odessa Permian and is the only Longhorn to receive the Big 12 Player of the Year award. She holds the seasonal record at texas for points scored (46), goals scored (16), and assists (14). 

Kelly Wilson Receives A NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, Holds The Career Texas Record For Points (129), And Assist (41)

Kelly Wilson is named to the Big 12 Conference 10th Anniversary Team.

Kelly Wilson Receives Freshman All- America Honors And Is The Only UT Women’s Soccer Player To Be Selected To The USA National Team.

Kelly has two hat tricks in 2003.

McDonald ( see the 2003 season) produced 14 goals, 5 game-winning scores, and 32 points. With this performance, she became UT’s all-time career leader in goals (38) and points (91) for a season. 

This team ties the 2004 team for the  record for most points scored (172) in a season.  

2002-2003-   12-9 record    Coach Chris Petrucelli 

The Horns returned 8 starters from the 2002 season, which produced the most victories in the history of Longhorn soccer. This was the first year that the Horns beat the Aggies. Texas finished second in the Big 12 with a 7-3 mark. Texas made the 64–team field for the NCAA tournament but lost in the first round, finishing 12-9 overall. 

This Team Holds The Seasonal Record At Texas For Most corner kicks (162)

  A pair of Kelly’s beats a pair of Aces. Kelly Wilson and Kelly McDonald are two of the best forwards in the nation. McDonald produced 14 goals, 5 game-winning scores, and 32 points. With this performance, she became UT’s all-time career leader in goals (38) and points (91) for a season.

Texas defeats No. 6 Texas A&M by a score of 2-1 in double overtime to give the UT soccer program its first-ever triumph over the Aggies. 

2004 –   15-7-2 record   Coach Chris Petrucelli

After 4 consecutive 10 plus seasons, the Horns final make a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA tournament. The team tied for 3rd in the Big 12 Conference.  Texas entered Big 12 tournament play seeded 4th but managed to make their 2nd trip to the championship game losing to A & M in the finals. They were 13-6-2 going into NCAA tournament play as the #12 seed.  The Horns beat the mean Green to notch their first-ever win in NCAA tournament play and then beat West Virginia to make the Sweet 16.  Texas lost to Portland in the first round of the Sweet 16.  8 members of the team made the Big 12 All-Academic team.

This team holds the seasonal record at Texas for most goals (57) most assist (62), and most shots 481

Capital One Academic All-America Emily Anderson is the only two-time winner, receiving second-team honors in 2008 and first-team recognition in 2009. (no picture)

2005-   11-9-1 record   Coach Chris Petrucelli

2005- 11 of 20 players are freshman and sophomores. The team only wins 3 of the first 9 games but wins 7 of the last 9.  5 of the Horns 8 losses were by 1 point. 

Texas was the 6th seed in the Big 12 tournament.  Carpenter and Kennedy led the team in scoring.  This was the 6th consecutive double-digit win season and 5th consecutive NCAA tournament.  

 2006 –  18-4-3 record   Coach Petrucelli

Best finish in the history of UT soccer at eighth in the nation

The longest winning streak in Texas Soccer History (13)

Four Longhorns are named to the Big 12 All-Conference team. 

Senior captain Carrie Schmit, junior forward Kelsey Carpenter, sophomore defenders Stephanie Logterman, and Kasey Moore, are named to the first-team. 

The Longhorns win their first Big 12 tournament and advance to the 3rd round of the NCAA tournament.

10 Longhorns are named to Academic All-Big 12 first team. Amy Burlingham, Kelsey Carpenter Priscilla Fite, Stephanie Gibson, Jill Gilbeau Karen Haight, Leslie Imber, and Stephanie Logterman.   

Emily Anderson – 2009 Academic All- American

2006 KAREN HAIGHT: WHY I MISSED SOCCER SENIOR PICTURES STORY ON TEXASSPORTS.COM 

08.21.2006

Part of an article on Texassports.com about Karen Haight is below

Karen Haight says :

 Last year as a junior, I applied for an internship with Goldman Sachs through the on-campus recruiting program here at The University of Texas. I interviewed in Austin with a lot of people and then traveled to New York for a day to interview with six more people. After I found out I made the cut, I was given the internship at the beginning of the summer.

I worked 10 weeks in the sales and rotational program, spending time with different desks within that division while learning about the company. I met as many people as I could and even helped out when possible. The main purpose of the internship was to see what life would be like if you worked for Goldman Sachs.

Prior to this internship, the closest I came to a full-time commitment (outside of playing soccer at one of the best Division I programs in the country) was a minimum wage, fast food job a few summers ago. I think the recruiters appreciated that I had little-to-no working experience because of my involvement with soccer, my grade point average and my personality. That combination helped me through the initial screening process and into the interview pool. From there, the people who selected the interns looked for people who they felt had a good personality to fit with the company and the program.

When I left for New York City, I knew no one there. I had never been to New York, other than for my interview, but even then, I flew in and out the same day. When I accepted the position I was definitely going on a leap of faith.

I met a lot of fun people in Manhattan including a few from UT. Actually, I met a lot of Texas students there. In our program were a number of students mainly from Ivy League colleges and other programs on the East Coast.

I lived in a dorm off Wall Street within walking distance to work.

2006-2007-  16-4-5  record    Coach Chris Petrucelli- ranked 11th nationally

This soccer team has the best winning record in Longhorn’s history. The team won their second consecutive Big 12 championship.  The Horns were ranked #7 but lost in the NCAA tournament to Florida State.   The record was 16-4-5.

This team had the highest winning record in Longhorn Sports history, crushing the Aggies in the second round of the NCAA tournament. The #7 Longhorns finally lost to Florida State.

2007 soccer team was known for their ability to come back, and that is not common in soccer.  Even though the Longhorns had an impressive season record the team did not glide past all of their opponents. There were very tough games against Penn State and New Mexico that challenged the core of the team.

The defense continues to rewrite the Longhorn soccer history book. This was the 8th year the Horns made the NCAA tournament.  They were consistently ranked in the top 20 and completed the season with its 9th straight double-digit record going undefeated at home. Texas made the round of 16 at the NCAA tournament.  Their highest ranking for the year was #4.  

The team finished 2nd in the Big 12 but won their second Big 12 tournament championship. This squad had the best non-conference record in Longhorn soccer history. This group was one of the best defensive teams ever at Texas with 10 shutouts orchestrated by the goalkeeper Dianna Pfeninger. Texas’s biggest victory ever was against #2 UCLA.

For the first time, Texas was ranked #1 in the nation. In the NCAA tournament play the Horns beat A & M at Aggieland for the first time since 1994. Kasey Moore was the first Longhorn to win back-to-back All-American honors. Kelsey Carpenter, Stephanie Logtermand, and Kasey Moore were 1st team in the Central Region. Carpenter became the first Texas soccer player to earn back-to-back Scholar All-America First team honors.

Kasey More became the first Horn to receive three All-American honors.  Dianna Pfinninger was a key to 11 shut-outs this year.  

Texas junior goalkeeper Dianna Pfenninger sets the UT school record with her 29th career win. 

 2007-2008 –  13-4-4 Record Coach Chris Petrucelli gets his 300th victory ranked 18th nationally

In September 2008, the Largest Crowd (5585) ever to watch a soccer game in the Big 12 saw Texas and Texas A&M compete. The average attendance was 1,068. The game ended in a tie.

This Team Holds The Seasonal Record At Texas For Most shutouts (11), the fewest points allowed (40), and consecutive shutouts (4). 

Kelly McDonald is tied with Kelly Wilson and Kelsey Carpenter with Texas career game-winning goals (13).

Petrucelli was reprimanded for pursuing and then confronting game officials near midfield after the completion of the Texas at Nebraska match on October 3.

Stephanie Logerman receives a NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship

Soccer defensive standout Jill Gilbeau receives the Janet Hauber Academic Excellence Award given to the female student-athlete who excels in the sciences. Gilbeau was a biology major who was named to the ESPN Magazines Academic All-District First Team and the Big 12 Academic First Team. She also receives soccer’s Lowe’s Most Improved Award.

2008-2009- 9-9-3  record Chris Petrucelli

The women’s soccer team had veteran players this year and a shot at winning the NSCSS tournament. Texas lost to Portland in the second round. Kasey Moore led the team and Coach said she has been a leader on the team since her freshman year.

2010 Chris Petrucelli 11-6- 4

Texas falls to Oklahoma in the quarter-finals of the Big 12 tournament. Texas A  & M in the semifinals of the Big 12 tournament.  The team ended the season 11-6-4.  Texas makes the NCAA tournament for the 9th time in 10 years.  Alexa Gaul was the team’s goalkeeper.  The team lost to James Madison in the first round.  Texas’s victory over undefeated Oklahoma State was the team’s most prized victories this year. 

As of 2015 Coach Angela Kelly has a 31-24-8 record at Texas.  Her overall career record is 191-108-28, with 12 of those years at Tennessee. At Tennessee, she is credited with 10 NCAA tournament bids, 5 sweet 16 appearances, 4 SEC tournament titles.  3 SEC titles and 3 time SEC coach of the year. 

2011 11-9-1 Coach angela kelly pending more information

Coach Angela Kelly chose to join the Horns after spending 12 years building the Tennessee program. The horns made it to the semis in the Big 12 tournament. 2011-2012- soccer  11-9- 1 record. This was a year of overtime losses but a great team effort. In Big 12 play Texas beat Texas Tech but lost to Oklahoma State. Texas lost to South Carolina in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

The Texas Soccer program receives the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Team Academic Award for the 2011-12 academic year. 

2012 8-10-2 Coach Angela Kelly

Brook Gilbert and Kelsey Shimmick   make Big 12 All tournament team

2013 12-6-2 Coach Angela Kelly

2014 11-8-4 Coach angela kelly

Team makes the semi-finals in the Big 12 tournament and returns to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2011.

Abbey Smith holds the career record as goal keeper for lowest goals against average (.80)

 2014 is the end of Soccer history on this site. Future information will be added at the appropriate time. 

2015- the team was 8-6-4 and third in the Big 12. The highlight of the season was two road wins against top 20 teams the most since 2002. Abby Smith broke the career shutout record (30), and Alexa Adams led the team in scoring.

Special Featured Soccer Players .

KYLIE DONIAK

2008

Soccer midfielder Kylie Doniak, who started in all but one of the Longhorns’ games in the 2008 season, also stressed the importance of preparing for the future. “I think we’re more experienced now,” Doniak said about the soccer underclassmen. “We’re going to go out there and have a little more fun because we’re more relaxed. Hopefully, we can incorporate the younger girls into the team and go out strong.”

Kylie Doniak was not there to receive her diploma in 2012. Brackenridge Hospital administrators called the Doniak family and said, ‘Your daughter got hit by a drunk driver.’ Kylie was in a coma for six weeks and, once she was well enough to leave the hospital, returned to California for more medical treatment.

“We were all at home, and we got that phone call at (midnight),” David Doniak, Kylie’s father, said. “It was from Brackenridge, the hospital, called us and said,

Before the accident, Kylie worked with kids at an Austin hospital, where she also helped coordinate volunteers. As she enters the professional world, she hopes to do something similar. “I would want to work with kids whether in a hospital, or I’m applying to do something in California with a school just to get around kids more,” Kylie said.

Kylie says she has kept in contact with her teammates, including those who graduated.

More than two years after the crash, she returned to the Mike A. Myers Track and Soccer Stadium, where she had played four years before. 

But this time, she walked across the field to take graduation pictures. Despite many challenges, she knew she’d walk across the stage. “I knew I was going to only ’cause I’m very stubborn, and I’m not going to ever change that, but I didn’t know when,” Kylie said.

“They’re making my weekend fun and all about me, which sounds so greedy, but they’re making it like that because they are just so excited to have me and just give me the experience I didn’t think I was going to get,” Kylie said. “I love it still, and being out there, I’m like, ‘Aw, that’s where I used to do this drill and shoot it right there.’ So I love it still.” “It’s such a nice field,” Kylie said.

A MESSAGE FROM KYLIE’S FAMILY

Kylie Has A Support System Of Family And Professionals Who Love Her Heart, Soul, And Spirit. They Have Helped Mend Her Great Spirit. 

Kylie has been in critical condition, with many significant injuries, including broken bones and severe head trauma. However, she has been making immense progress and is on her road to recovery. We ask that prayers stay strong as Kylie continues to win this battle. God has shown his high power and that those who Walk by Faith will be healed. 

 “She had to learn how to walk again, talk again,” David Doniak said. “You’re like, ‘I don’t think she’ll ever graduate.’ But for her to do it is just unbelievable.

As for the man who hit Kylie, Nicholas Colunga was convicted in August 2013 and sentenced to 14 years in prison. Kylie says she doesn’t have a problem with forgiving him.

‘I’ve never had the problem with forgiveness,” Kylie said. “He did what he did. I’ve been reading a million Bible verses that tell you to forgive. God tells you to forgive.”

Kylie’s family chronicled her successes throughout her recovery in a CaringBridge blog.

2006 KAREN HAIGHT: WHY I MISSED SOCCER SENIOR PICTURES STORY ON TEXASSPORTS.COM 

August, 21, 2006

08.21.2006 | Soccer

Karen Haight: Why I missed Soccer senior pictures

Texassports.com

Texas senior Karen Haight (Beaverton, Ore.) had a great excuse for eighth-year head coach Chris Petrucelli while explaining the reason she was late to preseason soccer training this year. Instead of joining the team when they reported on August 8th, the business honors student went through her physicals and took the field on Sunday, August 13, after returning from her summer internship with Goldman Sachs, one of the most prestigious global banking firms, in New York City.

Below is an entry from Haight on what she did as an intern in Manhattan, why she missed the senior class photo, and why she is so glad to be back in Austin.

Last year, as a junior, I applied for an internship with Goldman Sachs through the on-campus recruiting program here at The University of Texas. I interviewed in Austin with a lot of people and then traveled to New York for a day to interview six more people. After I found out I made the cut, I was given the internship at the beginning of the summer.

I worked ten weeks in the sales and rotational program, spending time with different desks within that division while learning about the company. I met as many people as I could and even helped out when possible. The main purpose of the internship was to see what life would be like if you worked for Goldman Sachs.

Prior to this internship, the closest I came to a full-time commitment (outside of playing soccer at one of the best Division I programs in the country) was a minimum-wage, fast-food job a few summers ago. I think the recruiters appreciated that I had little to no work experience because of my involvement with soccer, my grade point average, and my personality. That combination helped me through the initial screening process and into the interview pool. From there, the people who selected the interns looked for people who they felt had a good personality to fit with the company and the program.

When I left for New York City, I knew no one there. I had never been to New York, other than for my interview, but even then, I flew in and out the same day. When I accepted the position I was definitely going on a leap of faith.

I met a lot of fun people in Manhattan including a few from UT. Actually, I met a lot of Texas students there. In our program were a number of students mainly from Ivy League colleges and other programs on the East Coast.

I lived in a dorm off Wall Street within walking distance to work.

I never really got homesick because I was way too busy while I was there. Typically, I worked 12 hours every day, depending on the desk where I was assigned. I didn’t have that much time to do anything but the internship. I did spend some time on the weekends exploring the city, including taking in a few plays, but most of my time was shared with the other interns at networking events for Goldman. I also tried to make it to the gym three days a week despite the hectic and crazy schedule.

Some of the tourist highlights of my 10-week internship included going to two museums and taking in Broadway plays on four separate occasions. I went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim when my family came into town to visit.

The most exciting thing this summer was watching the World Cup. It was an awesome time to be in New York with so many soccer fans and with one of the biggest soccer events in the world taking place. I went to a three-story restaurant where every member of the Dutch Club of New York was there to watch the Holland versus Portugal game. There were three stories of Dutch soccer fans screaming, cheering, and wearing orange at three in the afternoon. It was awesome!

Outside of cheering for the U.S., I was fortunate because I was a Holland fan. I liked the team way before I went to the restaurant, so when I heard about the event, I had to go! I got one of the other interns to go with me. I couldn’t understand what everyone was saying, but it was so much fun!

The internship was an incredible experience. It was amazing how many people were extremely busy but would still take the time to get to know you and answer your questions. It was really cool to meet a bunch of Texas students that I didn’t know and wouldn’t have had the chance to meet if I hadn’t done this. Even though they are in the UT business school, it’s such a big school, so I might not have met them. I am really excited to spend some time with these new friends when they come back to Austin.

I really liked New York. If I were offered a job, I would definitely do it for a few years. I don¹t know if I could live there forever, but it is a fun place.

Of course, I missed my teammates while I was there. It was hard having them start preseason and me not being at Myers (Stadium) because I know what they’re going through. You want to be there with them through the whole thing, but I think they understood that I had to do this for my future. It was tough knowing that they did certain things, and I had to make them up when I got back.

“I am glad and so excited that I’m back in Austin. It’s such a different lifestyle, and I missed school. I’ve never been so glad to come back. My choices are work or school, and right now, I’m choosing school. I had a great summer, but I’m looking forward to soccer. It’s my senior season, so I’m really ready to get out there because we’re going to have a great team.

Hook Em!! Karen

The link for playing soccer for Texas from TexasSports.com is below.

http://www.texassports.com/news/2015/9/3/WSOC_0903152156.aspx