This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
For the Salt Lake Community College women's club soccer team, winning its games is only half the battle. The other half is making sure they have games at all.
As a club sport, the team buys its own gear, schedules its own matches and pays for its own travel. To raise money, a lot of the players spend hours selling concessions at Real Salt Lake games. Others try to mix in part-time jobs with their education and sports commitments.
It's not exactly glamorous, but it's what they're willing to do for the game.
"All the girls on our team are different, but we all connect through soccer," says Lacey Montgomery, a center midfielder and team captain. "We all just get along, and we work hard to make sure we can play."
The SLCC team has aspirations of being a sanctioned sport, meaning it would be supported by the college. Things like uniforms, scheduling and even getting buses or officials wouldn't be a concern for the players.
But it's an uphill battle. Bruins coach Gabe Bran, who is paid as a part-time employee, has taken up discussions with the sports department, but the college lacks the funding to start taking on new sports. Even if the budget could accommodate making the team official, the club also has to prove it can win.
Last season, that wasn't a problem. The team went 14-5-0 playing most of its games against other college club teams out of state. With six returning players this season, the Bruins are hoping for similar results. Plus, every win helps raise the team's profile.
"A lot of people don't even know we have a team," Montgomery says. "We're still trying to get our name out there and be recognized. A lot of the students are supporting us now, so hopefully that will help."
The team has played in a few scrimmages and warm-up tournaments this summer as it begins to build cohesion. So far, Bran says, the team has mostly done conditioning and fitness drills.
July will be when the Bruins start on one of their most critical seasons to date.
"These women just have a love of the sport that pushes them," Bran says. "They're willing to represent their school and sacrifice because they love soccer. If we become sanctioned, that will help them a lot."
Twitter: @kylegoon —
SLCC soccer club
Went 14-5-0 last season while playing mostly road games because of scheduling limitations.
Features six returning players this season under first-year coach Gabe Bran.