By Miggy Aguilar and Melisa Rodriguez
Graphic by Maya Uribe
The Women’s Soccer Club at CI is more than just a team—it is a community of students dedicated to growth, leadership and lifelong friendships. During a recent interview with some of the club’s members, it was clear to see that their bond goes way beyond just soccer. The club is a friendly space where students can make connections, feel included and grow their confidence.
We spoke with Alyssa Vargas, club president and senior sociology major, who reflected on her own journey with the club. Growing up in Napoma, a small town near San Luis Obispo, Vargas was not sure what to expect when she first joined the team. “You don’t have to be obviously skilled or anything. You can honestly just walk in and just want to have fun with the girls. You don’t have to be in shape. I wasn’t when I started. I just like, you know, saw a poster and I was like, you know what? I’m going to try that out because I wanted to get out of my shell. So I was just like, this is what I’m going to do. I’m going to join, get out of my shell. And then here I am, the president now.”
Today, Vargas leads the club, inspiring others to follow her example. “This is where you make friends and be silly. I want to say every day is my favorite it’s just the girls here are so much fun. I think I have met my lifelong friends. and hopefully it continues to grow.”
Vargas’s passion for the club extends to her goals for its future. “I wanna get more girls out here, at least a few more and just build a community so we can be friends forever,” she shared. Her vision is clear—she wants the team to be a welcoming space for players of all skill levels, whether they have taken a break from the sport or are trying it for the first time.
Vanessa Guetzoian, senior environmental science major, is the team’s vice president who shared with us similar sentiments. She emphasized the leadership skills she has gained through her role on the team, which have helped her prepare for her post-graduation goals of becoming a law enforcement national park ranger. “What has really helped me realize that I can do that career is the leadership qualities that I was able to just gain from being not only vice president but being involved in the club,” Guetzoian explained. “I had no idea that I would be taking up a vice president role or even a safety officer role. But getting to know the girls and feeling more comfortable and just getting out of my of a leader and be able to call some shots and help other people out.”
Guetzoian’s favorite memory of the soccer club illustrates the strong sense of teamwork that defines the group. “There was a certain game last year where we were down, I think it was one or two players, and we had no subs,” she recalled. “So it was a little bit hard, but we still fought, we pushed through. And even at the end of the game, the other coach actually told our advisor at the time, you got a really good group of girls here. And that just really encouraged me realizing that not only can we have fun outside, but in games. Situations like that it shows how much of a community and a team we can be to each other.”
Maya Valles, first-year health science major, is a striker on the team shares that she was nervous at first as a newcomer to the university and the team, but those worries quickly disappeared. “The second I stepped up to practice, they were like, oh, who are you? Like, just being so friendly and just everyone was amazing,” she said. “I never felt excluded.I just felt so included the second I went there.”
For Valles, the club has been an opportunity to rediscover her love for soccer after taking a break during her senior year of high school. “If you did take a break or if you’ve never even played soccer before and you’re interested in it just come try it out and just see if you love it,” she advised. “That’s what I want to do I want to try again and see if I loved it and I do love it again so I’m glad I was able to come out and even try it.”
The soccer club is not just about the game itself, it is about supporting each other on and off the field. The members encourage anyone interested in joining, regardless of experience or fitness level. “So for y’all, people who don’t like the gym, same. I’m out here on the field,” Vargas said laughing. “That’s honestly, what pushed me. I was like, I need to work out, de-stress in a way. And that’s what I found, soccer.”
In a final message to those considering joining, Vargas shared her welcoming spirit, “This is your sign. Come back. It’s so much fun… Yeah, just let off that steam out here on the field. We need it, guys. And we’re looking forward to seeing you soon!”
For anyone interested in learning more or joining the team, follow the club on Instagram or reach out to Vargas and Guetzoian for more information. The team practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays and all skill levels are welcome!
Instagram: @ci.wmnsoccer
