Team to play conference tournament during Spring Break

Ruben Mohme | THE RIDER 

Midfielder Gina Steiner and the rest of the UTRGV Women’s Soccer Team will be on the road throughout Spring Break, facing off against New Mexico State University, Grand Canyon University and California Baptist University. 

Everything changed for thousands of college athletes when the NCAA announced in Fall 2020 that it would conduct the fall championships in the Spring of 2021. Women’s soccer was one of the many teams that were moved from a fall to spring schedule.

“Usually, women’s soccer season is in fall, so we are usually off the whole week,” Steiner said regarding Spring Break. 

Asked what student athletes normally do on Spring Break, she replied, “Usually, we go on vacations for the week.”

Steiner, a graphic design senior from Nuremberg, Germany, said before the pandemic hit Texas, she, her brother and friends drove through Texas. 

Asked where she was when UTRGV transitioned to online classes, she replied, “I was at an NBA game watching the Spurs and the next day, that is when they canceled everything because of COVID.” 

The midfielder said the team will focus on games, recovery and practice during Spring Break.

“So, there is, like, no time off really,” Steiner said. 

She was asked if competing during Spring Break would affect the team’s performance.

“No, not really,” Steiner said. “I think with us being able to practice last semester, because of more restrictions, it was a little bit harder for us to get to know the team because we also have a lot of newcomers.”

Steiner said her team had competed for about a year.

“It’s always more difficult to come back but since we have had seven games [this semester], everything is kinda back to normal,” she said.

The women’s team will play against New Mexico State at 2 p.m. Saturday in El Paso.  To watch the game, visit https://www.wacdigitalnetwork.com/.