CANYON, Texas (KFDA) - Canyon High School girls soccer standout Aspen Esch signed to play at Eastern New Mexico University.
The Lady Eagles center forward will join the Lone Star Conference program in Portales. Esch was a key part of the Lady Eagles’ success, helping guide her team to another postseason berth this past season.
More than just soccer
Esch, who is already graduating with a cosmetology license, said the signing represents more than continuing her athletic career.
“The day means something beyond soccer. It means it’ll stretch my mental capacity and my physicality,” Esch said. “It’ll stretch me to grow deeper beyond a person and this is just a great opportunity to make me better.”
Staying close to home
Esch said leaving Canyon High School is difficult because she plays alongside her younger sister, but she can return for alumni games. Her parents are moving to Clovis.
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“It’s really nice that I get to stay close to my family. I’m definitely a family person,” Esch said. “I went [to Eastern] for an ID camp and then I toured the campus and saw the coaches and met some of the players and they were so welcoming, inviting. They made me feel like almost like a home and that’s what I want with a team.”
Esch plans to study marketing at Eastern New Mexico.
Coach’s perspective
Canyon head girls soccer coach Adriana Cavazos said playing college soccer was not initially part of Esch’s plans.
“I saw the talent and the qualities on the field and I was almost upset thinking you can’t just stop here. You gotta keep going,” Cavazos said. “You have so much more in you, but I understood she had other interests and little by little I think she grew the idea and the opportunity came.”
Cavazos said Eastern New Mexico coaches watched Esch play, and she began believing she could compete at the next level.
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“Today is about celebrating her dedication, her hard work and something I always told [the players] is you never know who’s watching and I think that’s what happened that night that those coaches came,” Cavazos said. “She didn’t realize she was being watched and then she stood out.”
Cavazos said the signing celebrates the community, the program and the team. She said it demonstrates the program is doing good work and that Esch remains passionate about the sport.
“I’m very proud of her and I’m very grateful that I got to coach her these past years and most importantly, I’m grateful for her parents and the opportunities they provided for her,” Cavazos said. “I’m so excited and I can’t wait to see her playing at the next level and continue with her education.”
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