Las Vegas, New Mexico - Mia Roybal is one of seven New Mexico natives on the New Mexico Highlands soccer roster. But entering the summer, there was a real possibility that Roybal's time as a Cowgirl had come to an end.
At the conclusion of the spring semester, the Albuquerque native planned to step away from soccer and pursue an engineering degree at the University of New Mexico. Eventually, however, Roybal realized she wasn't ready to leave the game, or New Mexico Highlands, behind.
When she decided to return to Las Vegas, Roybal admitted she was nervous about reaching out to head coach Amanda Evans. But after making the call, her return to the Cowgirls quickly fell into place.
"I just knew that I wasn't ready to stop playing soccer," Roybal said. "I talked with my dad, and he told me I only have a certain amount of time to play, but I have my whole life to work. I knew that all my friends are here, and people that will be in my life after soccer, so I reached out and she was on board. Everyone was super welcoming."
Roybal, a former standout at Volcano Vista High School in Albuquerque, also began thinking about how she wanted her collegiate career to end. Walking away without getting the opportunity to finish on her own terms didn't feel right.
"A part of you feels regret when you make a decision as big as that, especially when it doesn't end how you want it to," Roybal said. "I watched all the seniors get their Senior Night and go out of their college career 'properly,' so I felt like I was missing out."
Another important factor in her decision was her relationship with Amanda and Anthony Evans and the culture they have worked to build within the program. Roybal believes the Cowgirls have grown closer as a team and developed a shared belief in where the program is headed.
"The team is more family-oriented. We're all close," Roybal said. "This is the first year where I feel like everyone gets along and is working toward the same thing. We have ups and downs, but you'll have that with any coach. It'll take a long time to get where we want to get, but everyone sees it happening."
"When I left, they told me if I needed anything to reach out and that I was always welcome."
When Roybal returned, she also stepped into a leadership role on a young Cowgirls roster. She scored the first goal of her collegiate career in New Mexico Highlands' home opener against St. Mary's and has become one of the team's more active offensive players.
More important to Roybal, though, has been helping a young group continue to grow and remain together regardless of the results on the scoreboard.
"This year feels different because we have a younger team," Roybal said. "Coming back was easier because I felt like I had a little more experience with the coach and being here. But stepping into a leadership role, with someone like Stella, who has also grown into a leadership role, has helped me a lot this year."
"I spoke to all my teammates, and they said they wanted me to come back, which made me realize it was what I wanted to do."
For Roybal, returning also meant another opportunity to represent her home state while playing college soccer.
It's something the Albuquerque native doesn't take for granted.
"I'm very proud of being from New Mexico," Roybal said. "And I want us to be great."
