Horns women’s soccer developing a foundation

By Lethbridge Herald on October 4, 2023.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The University of Lethbridge Pronghorns women’s soccer team are developing a foundation in what has been a challenging season where they have won a game in 11 contests under new head coach Thiago Bastos.

“Unfortunately, it’s not what we’re expecting from this season,” said Bastos.

“We have like a lot of like  downs when it comes to the squad. We already have a very lean squad and we have some girls with season-ending (injuries).”

According to Bastos, the team had to re-adjust what order of players who were playing from the beginning of the season and knew it would be a tough season.

The Horns only had around three weeks to prepare of the season.

“So it was still marginally a foundation for the seasons to come and get the girls towards what we want as a team, what we want as a principle, and what we want as a game motto and just get stronger from there,” said Bastos.

Bastos wants to see the girls focus on the process for the rest of the season.

“We had like tough games this past weekend (1-0 and 2-1 losses at University of Saskatchewan and University of Regina respectively),” said Bastos.

“But like we just felt like we should have (got) points for the weekend. We should have won against Regina for sure, we were the better team, and that was the conversation that we had. The girls, Like last season, we went there, they lost like 5-0, 4-0 and now we’re like we’re playing to win games. It doesn’t come sometimes the way we want it, but there is wins, there’s wins in the process … and now towards the end it’s just make sure like everybody’s healthy and keep laying the foundation for the next year or so.”

Bastos thought of mentality and happiness when it comes other victories on the field for the girls.

“Like they’re lighter, they’re happier,” he said.

“We had other people coming towards us and saying like they feel the  girls are different. (In) the past year, (they were) like hiding themselves during the season, they … like wouldn’t show up and now like the girls are studying outside, they feel more confident, they feel more happy, they’re enjoying more and that’s definitely a thing to celebrate. Because in the past years they just didn’t enjoy it and they were suffering and there’s of course it brings a little bit of mental health issues.”

Bastos has learned patience with his team.

“It’s always like, of course we’re self-reflecting and things we should do and what we should change,” he said.

The Horns will be back in action this weekend as they conclude their five-game road trip at the University of Calgary Dinos on Saturday.