Texas history pushes Wildcats

Nicholas Valenzuela Arizona Daily Wildcat Michalle St. John (18) sends the ball flying during the Wildcat's last game against ASU. Arizona will face Texas and Texas-El Paso this weekend, two schools St. John passed up to play soccer for the Wildcats.

She has Arizona roots but her style of play was picked up in San Antonio.

A standout prep player, St. John prepares for her first match against two Texas schools she turned down to come to UA.

Arizona (2-2-1 overall and 0-1-0 in the Pacific 10 Conference) begins a seven game homestand tonight at 7 against Texas at Murphey Stadium. The Wildcats plays Texas-El Paso on Sunday at 1 p.m. as well.

A defender in high school, St. John led the Alamo Football Club U-17 to the Texas state championship her sophomore year. The four-year letter winner from Thomas C. Clark High School was the leader on a defense which allowed only five goals the entire season.

By the end of her senior year she and her team advanced to the state regional play-offs and she earned all-district and All-San Antonio honors. She was even a member of the Olympic Development Program and was named to the Lanzera National Select Team that traveled overseas.

However, through all her success with Texas soccer, St. John's decision to come to Arizona was quite easy to make. Having grown up in Tucson, St. John was eager to return.

Both of her parents were Wildcats, graduating from UA with degrees in art and special education and that is something Michalle wants to follow.

"Texas is going to be a tough and tenacious game," St. John, a sophomore, said. "Their skills are good but they are not the best."

The matches this weekend will be good tests for Arizona to judge where they are at. Beginning a seven game homestand with two wins would put the Wildcats at a good advantage.

"Wins this weekend would mean a lot, Texas is a well coached team that will give us a very tough game," head coach Lisa Fraser said.

St. John says she is preparing for this weekend like any other games.

"I've just been working on my one-on-one skills and focusing on not stepping in," St. John said.

Fraser has her own history with the Longhorns.

While Fraser coached at Washington State University, Dang Pibulvech, now the Texas head coach, was the head coach at the University of Washington.

The rivalry between UW and WSU is quite intense, as is any in-state rivalry.

"We definitely had tough matches when we played, everybody gets up for your in-state rivalry," Fraser said. "Dang always has his teams well disciplined and ready to play."

This week the Wildcats have been working heavily on goal scoring. On Arizona's last road trip, to Sacramento, the Wildcats could not find the back of the net in two games.

"The offense has been a big focus during practice this week," Fraser said. "Last week we had a lot of shots but they were outside of the box."

Fraser said that this weekend the Wildcats need to get that next pass into the box so the forwards can get shots off from close range.

Arizona coaches expect an even match up against UTEP on Sunday. With a record of 3-2-1 in the Western Athletic Conference, the Miners will count on freshman Rebecca Calder for their offense.

The Texas game Friday night will be more of a challenge for UA. The Longhorns are coming off of a three game winning streak after starting the season 0-2. Over the weekend Texas notched two wins, against No. 5 Nebraska, winning 1-0, and Iowa State, shutting out the Cyclones 3-0.

"Two wins this weekend would give our team a boost we need to take with us for the rest of the season," St. John said. "We need to improve our 2-2-1 record now."