By Sara Belsole
There is nothing a soccer player loves more than stepping out on the field to play a game at her own stadium. You know the field like the back of your hand and the crowd is always on your side.
So far, the Spartans have been successful on the road, but we are now ready to bring it back home—back to the field that is home to old memories and brilliant games. Back to the field where respect and a legacy of winning was born.
Here, at the University of Tampa’s Pepin Stadium, the Spartans have not lost once in their last 38 home games. The team will host Lynn on Saturday night, the first home game since Aug. 26 and first home conference match.
This season, 11 new freshman and transfers join the squad, and we are all excited to continue the impressive home record. We are already striving to help maintain our high ranking and national respect, so why not add the home wins record into the mix? We have all heard the stories of the past wins at home, and now it is our turn to experience it. But I know you can’t help but wonder, are you guys nervous?
“I am nervous and excited,” Freshman Amy Triano said. “After so many weeks on the road, it is finally time to play at home and work to keep the record going.”
Sophomore Nicole Davis is a transfer from Coastal Carolina University. She played plenty of home games there, but playing on a field that has not seen a loss in what seems like forever is a whole new experience for her.
“I think we will keep the tradition of winning at home going,” Davis said. “We need to just keep doing what we are doing. It doesn’t matter if we are playing at home or away, we need to play hard.”
Joining the 11 new players in their first home conference game is junior Martha Bromfield. Bromfield, who suffered an injury that kept her out for the season last year, is also anxious to get the first game underway.
“I am proud to say that I play on a team that holds such a record,” Bromfield said.
So fans, on Saturday at 5 p.m. we will once again take the field ready to play. We will once again perform the same warm up, and we will once again complete our pre-game rituals. But I know this is not just any game; this is another opportunity to show the school and other soccer programs around the country that the Spartans don’t mess around, especially at home. We are proud to wear the University of Tampa on our jerseys, and if the other teams think they can come into our house and defeat us, they better think twice.
