Faith, Family and Fight: The Heart Behind HSU Soccer’s Season By: Aniekeme Andy

For the Hardin-Simmons University (HSU) men’s and women’s soccer teams, this season has been about a lot more than just the scoreboards. It has been about family, faith and the kind of resilience that shows up when things get tough.

“The year hasn’t gone exactly how we expected, but that hasn’t stopped us from growing together,”  Omar Estrada, a senior sports management major from Midland and striker for the Cowboys, said. “It’s been rough and not something that we would’ve expected throughout the season, but our team has been showing great resilience. That hunger will help us accomplish our goals this season.” 

“My favorite moment was definitely scoring that goal against Centenary and celebrating by dancing with the team,” Estrada said. “It gave me momentum and reminded me how much I love playing with these guys.”

“The bond within this team is like none other,” Trace Binyon, a sophomore business major from Frisco, said. “We’re truly all brothers. We’ve built a fellowship where we’d do anything for anybody.”

Across campus, the Cowgirls have built something just as strong as a culture rooted in connection and gratitude. 

“The chemistry of the team has been phenomenal,” Abigail Medlin, a senior English major from Cypress, said. “Every girl has worked so hard to build genuine connections with each other, on and off the field.”

“This season has gone by so fast,” Belle Floyd, a senior social work major from Litchfield Park, Ariz. and center midfielder, said. “We’ve learned a lot about who we are and what we want to become. Every person on our team has such a unique purpose it makes every practice and game so meaningful.” 

“Our trip to Ohio is a memory that stands out most to me,” Floyd said. “We left at 3:30 a.m. to catch a flight after playing the night before. Those long travel days are crazy, but they’re the best we get to spend time together as a team, away from all the distractions.”

“Scoring a goal after surgery was one of my favorite moments,” Keanne Alamo ,a senior exercise science major from Allen and midfielder, said. “It’s been a rollercoaster, but I’m so blessed to have my team by my side.” After coming back from ACL surgery, she found herself rediscovering confidence and joy on the field.

For Alamo, HSU soccer is about so much more than competition, it is community. “We do Bible studies, volunteer together and even watch our coach’s daughters play soccer,” Alamo said. “The love this team has is unlike anything I’ve ever had before.”

Both programs, the Cowboys and Cowgirls, have faced challenges, but what stands out is the way they have carried each other through them. Whether it is early morning workouts, long road trips or late-night laughs, they have built something that lasts far beyond the season. Because at Hardin-Simmons, soccer is more than a game, it is a family.