FORT WAYNE – Indiana Tech is counting on a pair of Colombians – nicknamed “Thunder and Lightning” – to make a lot of noise this women’s soccer season.
The Warriors will need sophomore Manuela Cabal and freshman Natalia Salcedo to strike more than they did in Friday’s season opening 1-0 extra-time loss to Saint Francis in the first match of the Shindigz Soccer Festival at Hefner Fields.
The Cougars’ Katelyn Strout scored the winning goal off a crossing pass from the right wing by Jordan Kyle 42 seconds into the second 10-minute extra period. Saint Francis defender Leah Campbell set the table for the winning goal in the 101st minute by driving the ball down the right line into the corner that Kyle chased down.
“I just saw the ball coming, and I wanted to get it done and over with and get my head on it and score,” Strout said.
Saint Francis’ game-winning goal soured a match that Tech largely dictated. The Warriors finished with an 18-6 shot advantage, and Salcedo’s work at midfielder helped Tech control most of the game’s flow.
Warriors coach Jim Lipocky credits Cabal with getting her fellow native of Cali, Colombia, to contribute right away in the more physical American style of soccer.
“It was good for Mannie to come here a year before because she was able to tell Natalia that this is college soccer, it is a lot more physical,” Warriors coach Jim Lipocky said. “A lot of times, we are also adjusting to how they play.”
Cabal and Salcedo made their way to Tech because of a program at their high school that helps students enroll in U.S. colleges. The program brings student-athletes to campuses to try out for teams and also to find out if the school will be the right fit.
The pair visited Tech in October and by December it was decided that the two teammates would be reunited. The reunion brought back “Thunder and Lightning” with Salcedo making the most noise (thunder) in matches with her ability to set up scoring opportunities. Cabal is the lightning, striking for goals.
“I was one of the persons that pushed (Salcedo) the most to come here, because it would make my life easier because we played seven years with her already,” said Cabal, who said the nickname came from their college counselor Mike Schille. “We wanted to come and play soccer here. We never thought we would end up playing at the same school. That’s a one-in-a-million opportunity.”
