MOBILE, Ala. – Lissette Nunez is a freshman midfielder on the University of South Alabama soccer team, but had an opportunity of a lifetime when she was asked to try out for the Trinidad and Tobago Under-17 National Team when she was only 16 years old. She was eligible because her mom is a native of the Caribbean island country.
“My mom grew up in Trinidad and moved to United States when she was 15,” said Nunez.
The training camp, which was used to select the country’s squad for the Under-17 World Cup Tournament to be held in New Zealand, is one of only four worldwide international women’s soccer events of its kind outside the World Cup and the Olympics, providing an opportunity for girls of Trinidadian decent to play together and honor their country.
Nunez was one of thirty girls chosen to train with the national team in Tampa, Fla., for a little over a month during the summer of 2006. The coaches evaluated players on their fitness, speed and situational awareness. Following the evaluation camp, Nunez did not make the cut but she definitely made and impact on the T&T coaching staff. She received several calls to come and play for the team, but because of scheduling conflicts with school she was unable to participate.
“It was a really tough experience, because the tempo of the game was a lot faster. The experience definitely took my game to another level in just a month and a half. My touch and speed of play improved, and it made me a stronger player,” said Nunez.
“I took it really hard when I didn’t make the final cut, but the experience was the opportunity of a lifetime that I will always remember.”
As a player, Nunez feels that her best asset as a midfielder is that she has the ability to read what the offense is going to do next so she is able to get in position faster.
Her experience practicing with the national team gave her the opportunity to develop as a player and play against girls from all over the United States and Trinidad and Tobago, and provided a great chance for her to evaluate herself as a player and see what she needed to improve on.
Nunez lettered four years for Union Grove High School in McDonough, Ga., where she was named team captain and defensive player of the year her senior season. As a freshman, she received most valuable player honors. She chose to come to South Alabama as a walk-on because of her love for soccer and the meteorology program.
“I chose South Alabama because I felt comfortable here and all the girls were really friendly. I fell in love with the soccer program and thought it would be a great fit for me.”
Nunez really liked Jaguar head coach Mike Varga’s coaching style and thought that he could help her become a better player.
You can see her passion for the sport and her desire to improve just by talking with her. Nunez feels that it takes hard work, determination and discipline to become a great soccer player.
She has recently been diagnosed with Spina bifida, which is a developmental birth defect caused by the incomplete closure of the embryonic neural tube. Some vertebrae overlying the spinal tube are not fully connected. Dealing with this has been a major obstacle, but she is determined to get back on the field.
Nunez said, “No matter what I am going to fight my way back on the field. I want to play. “
“Lissette has been a great addition to the South Alabama soccer program,” Varga said. “She has had to deal with injuries so far this year, but I am hopeful that she will continue to get healthy and be able to play at the standard she is capable of playing.
“I am hoping that Lissette has a wonderful collegiate career and continues to get called back to the national program.”
So far she has only played in one collegiate match this season, but looks to continue working hard in rehab so she can get back on the field as soon as possible. And while it important to her that Nunez have a successful career as a student-athlete at the University of South Alabama, one day she would love to have another opportunity to play with the Trinidad and Tobago National Team.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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