Tucson trio stays, plans for big future together

Leigh-Anne Brown Arizona Daily Wildcat UA starter Elena Galvan attempts a steal on the ball from the Creighton player during Sunday's game. Galvan, a Tucson local, feels that she has worked hard to earn her starting position.

From three different Tucson high schools, Elena Galvan, Kate Nighswander-Will and Kendra Gefvert decided to play together in 1996 and led their club team Ft. Lowell Premiere to a second place finish in the Arizona State Cup.

The threesome figured why change a good thing and are now freshmen on the UA soccer team.

During their two years on the Premier, the best under-19 women's soccer team in Tucson, the three became close friends. Nighswander-Will and Galvan also went to the Olympic Development Program Regional tournament together.

During high school they always had close matches against one another. Galvan, a product of Sunnyside High School, said that having two of her best friends go to the same college has made her transition easier.

"We are all here to look out for one another - in class and in practice," Galvan said. "Sometimes we get together and compare the different worlds between college and club ball."

Nighswander-Will noticed the advantage of playing college soccer with members of her club team.

"It is so awesome to be able to play college ball with them," Nighswander-Will said. "It really helps because we know each other's style of play."

Gefvert said that having two former teammates on her team now has really helped her recover from an injury this summer. In July, Gefvert tore her medial collateral ligament while playing on a Tucson women's soccer league.

"When I hear them cheering for me it really motivates me to push myself," Gefvert said.

All three of them agree that making the transition from high school to college together was a good move.

"It was easier because right away we had people to turn to," Nighswander-Will said. "We automatically had a connection."

So far the Tucson locals have made their contributions to the Wildcats success well-known. Galvan, who is one of the tallest girls on the team, is tied for first place with junior Nikki Jones for total shots on the season, 26. Galvan has seen action in all but one game at the forward spot and her minutes have increased.

"This season I started out slow, but recently I have broken out and gone back to my game," Galvan said. "I have worked hard to earn my starting position."

Head coach Lisa Fraser recruited Galvan knowing she had potential to become a leader early on in her career.

"Elena has learned to play faster and quicker soccer," Fraser said. "She is a true striker who takes players on - she is improving in every game."

Fraser recruited Galvan, Gefvert, and Nighswander-Will hoping to get at least one of them for her program.

"These girls are three of the top players in the area," Fraser said. "You always hope to get the top kids from your area, but I was surprised to get all three of them."

From the beginning Galvan knew she wanted to play for Arizona. She likes how the university supports the program and she thought Fraser was a good coach. Being close to home was an important part of Galvan's decision as well.

"My family has played a major role in my soccer career," Galvan said. "I couldn't imagine not seeing them in the stands. I wanted them to be a part of my college career."

Playing soccer in front of her home town crowd influenced Nighswander-Will to stay in Tucson rather than playing for Washington or Texas who wanted her as well.

"I really like Lisa's style of coaching," Nighswander-Will said. "She has taught me so much since I've been here. I never knew there was that much out there about soccer."

Fraser can now only hope the three players continue the dominance they had last season for the years to come.

"These freshmen will have a big impact on the future of our program," Fraser said.