by Andreas Zai
As Arizona Soccer's 2015 regular season winds to a close, the seniors have been reflecting on their experience with the program.
Sheaffer Skadsen
Q: Was your experience at the University of Arizona everything you expected it to be?
A: Yes, I came for the palm trees and the sun, and I definitely got that. Being on a great soccer team was a great bonus.
Q: What is your fondest memory with Arizona Soccer?
A: Last year at the tournament, winning that first game at Oklahoma State and then kind of tricking Tony (Amato) into buying us all ice cream afterwards.
Q: What are you going to miss about being a part of this team?
A: I'm going to miss the environment in the locker room the most probably; on an early morning preseason workout when everyone is coming in half asleep and dead tired. Or, right before a game, everyone up and jumping. Or, someone having boyfriend trouble and all of us chatting about it. We have a big family and I am going to miss that the most probably.
Skadsen is a fourth year defender at the University of Arizona. She had nine caps as a freshman in the program, and has only grown from there. She played 18 matches this season, holding her opponents to an astounding 1.08 goals against average and lending her hand (or feet) to contribute to eight clean sheet. Veteran Skadsen will be sorely missed for her defensive ability, team leadership, and overall – her love for the program and her teammates.
Hannah Wong
Q: Was your experience at the University of Arizona everything you expected it to be?
A: Yes, but then again I didn't really have any expectations. I didn't know what to expect, and this has probably been the best experience of my life.
Q: What is your fondest memory with Arizona Soccer?
A: I have a lot of favorite moments. But… Every time you score a goal and you're running back and you're so happy, that's probably my favorite moment.
Q: What are you going to miss about being a part of this team?
A: I'm going to miss the Friday nights under the lights when I am running out with my teammates. Also, I have made my best friends here and I am going to miss them.
Wong has consistently been a key component to Arizona's offense, ever since she was a freshman with three assists on the 2012 season. Since then, Wong exploded this season to tack 40 shots onto the already impressive 121 team total, which, if you haven't already done the math, is a third of the total shots. Arizona Soccer won't be the same without Wong's unmatched performance, guidance, and appreciation for the team surrounding her.
Hayley Estopare
Q: Was your experience at the University of Arizona everything you expected it to be?
A: No, I wasn't expecting our team to be so family-oriented, supporting each other so much both on the field and off the field.
Q: What is your fondest memory with Arizona Soccer?
A: Definitely winning our first tournament game.
Q: What are you going to miss about being a part of this team?
A: I will miss my teammates the most. All the relationships and memories we have made, everything like that.
Although Veteran defender Estopare may be short on words, her reputation and contributions to the program far precede her. She notched 11 caps her freshman year, which is particularly formidable especially in a time when the team was underperforming. Now as a senior, she has 18 appearances with four goals and two assists, placing her in second on the team list for offense. If you didn't already know this, Estopare is a defensive midfielder. These remarkable numbers in conjunction with her mentorship for the younger players will leave some big shoes for the younger athletes to fill.
Alison Gondosch
Q: Was your experience at the University of Arizona everything you expected it to be?
A: It was different than what I expected but it was still and amazing experience because going out there and wearing that block A or that Arizona Soccer [logo], you just have this sense of pride that people outside of the fieldhouse or the locker room don't understand. It is one that will stick with me for a long time.
Q: What is your fondest memory with Arizona Soccer?
A: When we made the NCAA tournament, we were in Lowell-Stevens and they announced the tournament. We were in some room, and it was the first time in 10 years that we had made the tournament. It was surreal. We didn't expect it. Our seniors last year started off winning one game and then making the tournament their senior year. It's something that we can hold on to; we're definitely building a legacy and we're part of that legacy. It's been an amazing experience.
Q: What are you going to miss about being a part of this team?
A: I'm definitely going to miss my teammates. You come in here expecting to play soccer and to go to school, but you don't expect to make the friends, the sisters, and the teammates that I did. It will be weird going into the real world and not having a team, trying to make friends.
Goalkeeper Alison Gondosch has quietly been one of the strongest leaders on the team, teaching the incoming keepers the ins-and-outs of Arizona Soccer. The motivational efforts, technical skills, and love she has for the program are going to leave a mark in Tucson for years to come.
Kaitlyn Lopez
Q: Was your experience at the University of Arizona everything you expected it to be?
A: I would say no. It's been a lot more intense than I would have expected. You don't really realize what you are getting yourself in to, but it's been great.
Q: What is your fondest memory with Arizona Soccer?
A: Winning the first round of the tournament last year, I don't think I've seen anyone as happy as we were after winning that game. I remember [Coach] Tony getting on the bus and getting super excited.
Q: What are you going to miss about being a part of this team?
A: Obviously my teammates, but also that we have all had soccer our whole lives and if we don't continue our soccer careers after this… I will miss not having soccer anymore.
Lopez has played her last three years at the University of Arizona, and two of those have seen her at the top of the offensive performance chart. During her sophomore year she managed to earn 20 caps, five goals, and one assist which was enough for 11 points. Her junior year she repeated with two goals, three assists, and seven points – leading her team to its first NCAA tournament debut in years. There's no doubt that this performance will be greatly missed in addition to Lopez's offensive leadership and support for her teammates
Alexa Montgomery
Q: Was your experience at the University of Arizona everything you expected it to be?
A: Yes, it was everything I ever expected. I made a lot of friends here that I am always going to remember. I will always be a part of Arizona.
Q: What is your fondest memory with Arizona Soccer?
A: My favorite memory is winning the NCAA Tournament game.
Q: What are you going to miss about being a part of this team?
A: I'm going to miss not being able to call myself a soccer player. I'm going to miss my teammates, a lot of them are younger. It's going to be hard.
Like her teammate Estopare, Alexa Montgomery is short on words but big on performance. A fourth-year student at the University of Arizona, her contribution to the team will be noticed mostly after she is gone. She has an average of 19 caps per season over the last three seasons, which is well above average in any athletic program. Her defensive abilities, headship, and love for the school and team will be remembered long after she leaves.
The Wildcats take on their rivals from the north, Arizona State, this Friday at 6:00 p.m. MST on the Pac-12 Networks. Keep an eye on this year's seniors, who will undoubtedly have an existential performance on their final game under the lights to best their opponents.
