Keepin' It Real With Alba: The Toro Family
A Diary by Alba Garcia, Toros Soccer Player
October 6, 2003

The past two years have been a roller coaster ride for the men's and women's soccer teams here at good ole Dominguez Hills. Our coach accepted a job offer with another program a week before the start of our season last year and the fate of our season hung in the balance. While Joe, the men's coach, was assigned as the interim head coach for the women and the men were faced with many uncomfortable changes. It all happened really fast and when it was all said and done, the women's team made it through a few terrible tragedies and the men's team lost in a heartbreaking way in the NCAA tournament. Through it all it only made us stronger.

Now with a new season, wonderful facilities, a set coaching staff, and a lot of talent, we have adjusted very well. Although it wasn't until two weekends ago on our road trips to Phoenix, Arizona and San Diego that I realized what a tightly knit group we really are.

Joe (Flanagan) and (Jeff) Tuttle have always emphasized that soccer teams are like families since during the season we spend so much time away from our real families we have to be a support system for one another. This concept though has far exceeded the boundaries of the men's and women's teams. We have all truly become one big family in every sense of the word. We not only have unconditional support from our coaches and from each other, but we also receive it from our athletic department and training staff.

A few great examples were matches at San Diego against UCSD. We played first and won a great upset against number four ranked UCSD, while the men didn't fare so well. They ended up being on the other end of the upset in a controversial loss to UCSD. Throughout our game the men were in the stands cheering us on (That is until they had to go get ready for their own game). This wasn't an abnormal sight, neither was the fact that most of the girls wished the boys luck on the way up to the stands where we would also hopefully cheer them on to another victory.

The part that I found to be weird was that we were so happy after our victory, but after the men lost, we found it very hard to be happy on the ride home. Every girl that was there at the game felt the pain the boys felt after their defeat. Not only were the men's and women's teams upset about the whole thing, but our trainers Vicky and Chris (who are also honorary members of our extended family) were just as angry.

There is no doubt in my mind that we are extremely fortunate. We're able to represent our Dominguez Hills family with pride every time every time we step on that field and hopefully if things keep going our way both the men and women's teams have the opportunity to do some great things this year.

I love all of you guys, take care.

Alba