Saul Loeb/Arizona Daily Wildcat Senior Naomi Chu is the only four-year player on the Wildcats and the only team member who was not recruited by current head coach Cathy Klein.

The last one is always the most renowned and respected.

The last of the Mohicans, last of a recruiting class, the last unicorn, the last days of disco. The last one.

Senior Naomi Chu is all of those, except for the Mohican, unicorn and disco part.

She came to Arizona four years ago, from Thousand Oaks, Calif., after she looked at other schools but knew what she wanted: To be a Wildcat.

"I looked elsewhere, but here the education complemented what I wanted to pursue," she said. "UCLA, whatever, it's all the Pac-10, the best conference for competition."

She came to UA before current head coach Cathy Klein was even here and before most of her teammates could even drive a car.

Chu is the only current four-year team member, as a result she's seen teammates come and go.

"Well, mostly go," she said laughing. "It's so funny, no one remembers who I came here with."

Chu is the only member of the 2002 soccer team not to be recruited by third year head coach Cathy Klein.

"Cathy recruited me when she was at Iowa State," she said. "But not here."

Obviously.

Actually, the first college recruiting letter Chu received in high school was from Klein and Co. from Iowa State.

"I still have that letter," said Chu.

"I think it meant a lot to her when (assistant coach Melissa Estrada) and I came here," said Klein. "It made the transition very comfortable for her."

Estrada played under Klein when Klein was working the sidelines at Creighton, then was hired by Klein at ISU and made the trip with Klein to Tucson.

Nevertheless, she's here playing with Klein now and she's a major part of the surging Arizona program. Chu is tied for the team lead in points with four, via two goals and she leads the team with nine shots-on-goal.

"This is Cathy's year," said Chu. "She started with what she had, now she has her own players."

Klein has nothing but praise for Chu.

"Her effort and integrity are always consistently the most." Klein said.

But Klein's feelings don't end there.

"I would stake my life 100% on that Naomi Chu is ready to play every week," Klein said.

On and off the field she's a leader, role model and a person to talk with.

"She's a leader of the team," Klein said. "She is an extremely hard worker."

"I don't think I'm a leader," Chu shakes her head. "I'm trying to play the role as a player, student and the best person I can."

One of the ways she is trying to better herself is by becoming someone who educates tomorrow's youth. Chu is an education major with plans to pursue a graduate degree in education psychology after graduation and somewhere down the road wedding bells are ringing.

Chu's role in bettering the team has been very effective. The Wildcats are 3-1-1, their best start ever, heading into this weekend against San Diego. In Chu's first season the Wildcats went 7-12-2, now under Klein they are 8-27-3 in two seasons but things are most definitely looking up.

The only loss of the season came last weekend at the hands of undefeated Oklahoma (6-0-0), and at halftime the game was tied 0-0.

"We can win because people are willing to step up, that game was so close at half," said Chu. "I know we can win now."

Seeing the program finally come full circle is, "bittersweet," said Chu.

"This year we all mesh together," she said.

The bitterness comes from this being Chu's last year on the team.

"It's like, Îwhat's next?' I've played soccer for most of my life, literally," said a wondering Chu. "I won't be able to compete collegially ever again, that's going to be hard to swallow."

The sweetness comes from the possibility that this could be the year, the year the team reaches the NCAA Tournament.

"I think we can, but the question is how bad we want it," she said.

Chu and the Wildcats want it pretty bad, considering in eight seasons no Arizona team has ever gone.

"We're working hard, we're all learning," Chu said.

There is no doubting the desire of Chu or her teammates. They don't need to talk to each other about the yearning for success, everyone knows that the longing is there. "People don't have to say it, they know when they have passion," Chu said.

However, there are no plans to coach soccer on the horizon as a simple head shake negates her answer.

Just don't count on those cleats being hung up any time soon, or ever for that fact. "I will always remain active, athletics are a part of my life."

This weekend Chu and the Wildcats will try to keep defying the odds against San Diego, a team numerically they shouldn't beat.

"I don't care what statistics or people say," Chu said. "I think we can win this game.

Finally, we get to play ay home."

Arizona has played their last three games on the road, they play at home this weekend only to travel again next weekend to Tennessee and Kentucky.

As Chu's time as a Wildcat closes, simply put, is a person who, as she put it, "Did everything to bring glory to God."

Maybe God is a Wildcat fan, which could help the chances this season.

"Naomi may have a bad game, but she will always give you 100%, always," said Klein. "That will be her legend."

As she rides off into the sunset this season Chu leaves behind only one small request.

"I want people to remember my name," Naomi Chu demanded. "Just kidding." Consider it done.