Women gathered to try out for a spot on the New Mexico Lightning, which has become the eighth team to join the Women’s Major League Indoor Soccer.”It’s so amazing to be a part of a group of women that play at such a high level and are very competitive,” said Andrea Hetrick, who was originally on the team when it was first created in 2019. However, the team disbanded in 2022 due to financial difficulties.”It was disappointing,” Hetrick said, “Because we worked so hard to build something, and we were playing at such a competitive level and getting to travel, and we really developed great friendships with everyone on the team.” Former Team Captain Tana Chavez said, “We just couldn’t really afford it anymore, and it just got really hard without having any sponsors.”Former team captain Tana Chavez explained that Indoor Major Indoor Soccer League Commissioner Bernie Lilavois reached out to the team, offering them another chance to play professionally.”He said, ‘Well, let’s make this happen.’ So he took us under our wing, and he’s actually helping us with sponsors out in Las Vegas,” Chavez said.For new players like Bailey Green, the opportunity to play professionally for New Mexico is inspiring. “Having this pro soccer team now is going to be so inspiring for these young girls who maybe don’t want to play college, but they still want to play at a high level,” Green said. New Mexico Lightning begin their season Jan. 17 against the Phoenix Pulse FC.
Women gathered to try out for a spot on the New Mexico Lightning, which has become the eighth team to join the Women’s Major League Indoor Soccer.
“It’s so amazing to be a part of a group of women that play at such a high level and are very competitive,” said Andrea Hetrick, who was originally on the team when it was first created in 2019. However, the team disbanded in 2022 due to financial difficulties.
“It was disappointing,” Hetrick said, “Because we worked so hard to build something, and we were playing at such a competitive level and getting to travel, and we really developed great friendships with everyone on the team.”
Former Team Captain Tana Chavez said, “We just couldn’t really afford it anymore, and it just got really hard without having any sponsors.”
Former team captain Tana Chavez explained that Indoor Major Indoor Soccer League Commissioner Bernie Lilavois reached out to the team, offering them another chance to play professionally.
“He said, ‘Well, let’s make this happen.’ So he took us under our wing, and he’s actually helping us with sponsors out in Las Vegas,” Chavez said.
For new players like Bailey Green, the opportunity to play professionally for New Mexico is inspiring.
“Having this pro soccer team now is going to be so inspiring for these young girls who maybe don’t want to play college, but they still want to play at a high level,” Green said.
New Mexico Lightning begin their season Jan. 17 against the Phoenix Pulse FC.
