By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
Cristen Lumbreras has played several sports while growing up, but her heart always has belonged to soccer.
And now, she’ll be playing her favorite sport in college.
Lumbreras, a four-year starter for the Los Fresnos Lady Falcons soccer team, has signed a scholarship agreement to play for NCAA Division III McMurry University of Abilene beginning this fall.
Friends, family and school district staff members witnessed Monday’s event at the high school gym.
“It’s such an honor to get to play for McMurry,” said Lumbreras, a graduating senior who also played volleyball and basketball while in high school. “I’ve been wanting this since I started playing soccer here as a freshman. I was hoping to catch someone’s attention and be recruited, and I finally did. My parents and my friends are happy for me. It’s a fulfillment of my dreams.”
During her time with the Lady Falcons in soccer, Lumbreras alternated between playing center midfielder and forward, and was known as a player who always hustled, never giving up on 50-50 balls.
“It’s just a lot of hard work on her end that’s paying off,” Lady Falcons coach Marissa Wood said. “We’re ecstatic (about this signing). When I met Cristen (her sophomore year), I literally knew right away she had the potential to do this. To see it come to fruition, it’s a sweet moment, and it’s a moment for her to remember for the rest of her life.
“I’m just blessed that I got to be a part of her journey here at Los Fresnos,” Wood added. “She’s one of those athletes you never forget.”
Lumbreras was a key member of winning soccer teams at Los Fresnos all four years, and none more successful than the Lady Falcons’ squad of 2015. It was a team that won District 32-6A and advanced five rounds in the playoffs to become only the third Valley girls soccer squad to reach a regional final. The Lady Falcons finished a school-best 27-4 and ranked No. 1 in the Valley.
“Cristen definitely hustled,” Wood said. “She played center mid and forward, and those were two very important positions for us. You would see her get knocked down, kicked around and even punched, and she would get right back up. She would take it for the team and give it some more (hustle) because one time of getting punched or knocked down wasn’t enough (to keep her down). She had to get back up and keep going.
“She never stopped, and that’s what I loved about her,” Wood added. “As coaches, we would sometimes have to tell her to pull back (on her exuberance), but there was never a time when we had to tell her to give us a little bit more. She was always pushing that extra inch.”
The standout senior also was a member of Los Fresnos volleyball team that advanced to the Region IV-6A Tournament last November in San Antonio.
Lumbreras, an All-Metro and all-district performer in soccer, plans to study kinesiology at McMurry. She would like to become a physical therapist or perhaps teach and coach.
“Honestly, it’s been amazing to be a part of this (athletic) program here at Los Fresnos,” Lumbreras said. “I think it’s been that we’ve had so much determination as a team and as individuals, (and that has helped us be successful). Every girl has been so determined. This year, thank God, we had an amazing (soccer) season. We almost went to state (losing 2-1 in the regional final to San Antonio Reagan).
“I’d just like to thank my coaches and my teammates for pushing me when times got tough,” she added. “My parents and my family — everyone has been there for me. It’s just a blessing to have that kind of support.”
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess.