Continuing the family tradition

She sits on the bench, wind blowing through her hair, as she slips on her cleats. She walks onto the field with a strong stance and adrenaline rushes through her body ready to defend the ball. While she approaches her position, she drowns out the sound of cheering from the stands.

Senior Amber Crews started off playing T-ball as a young girl but games quickly became too leisurely and lengthy for her. In an effort to keep her active, Amber’s parents enrolled her in a sport she could participate in more and play year-round. After discovering soccer and enjoying a more fact-paced game, Amber kept playing and is now in varsity soccer playing center mid and center back.

“I started playing soccer when I was 5 years old because my parents put me in, [but] I kept playing soccer because of how much fun [it was] and I was good at it,” Amber said.

After visiting various colleges and trying to help her daughter find the right one, Melissa Crews listened to what Amber wanted in a college. That’s when she suggested and contributed in Amber’s final decision on Texas A&M-Commerce.

“When she talked about not wanting to be too far from home and wanted a school not too big, I encouraged her to take a look [at] Texas A&M-Commerce,” Melissa said. “Once she saw it, she knew [that’s] where she wanted to go and play soccer.”

After deciding she wanted to attend Texas A&M-Commerce and knowing both of her parents are alumni of the college, Amber felt discouraged about not knowing if she would be accepted.

“I was very happy [because] I came late to the recruiting process and I didn’t think I would get lucky with a spot opening,” Amber said. “I didn’t think I could find something that was going to be suitable and then Commerce came along.”

From knowing Amber since she was only 7 years old playing academy soccer with her own daughter to being one of her own soccer players, head soccer coach Jamie Pulpaneck has seen how Amber has improved throughout the years on the field.

“She’s just become more confident on the ball, she’s become better, she’s also become a leader,” Pulpaneck said. “[She’s] stepped up her game because she knows she has to play every game at her top level so that her teammates will.”

To Amber, soccer was not precisely a pastime but a stress reliever too. Both soccer and the words of encouragement from her family and team have impacted Amber’s life by pushing her forward and providing her new skills.

“Soccer [gave] me leadership skills, teamwork roles and a place to let out all my stress,” Amber said. “[They have] motivated me to keep playing by never giving up on me and having their support keeps me going.”

As a proud mother, Melissa believes her priority in her daughter’s journey is to encourage her.

“I’m happy and excited about her going to Texas A&M-Commerce and playing soccer,” Melissa said. “All she ever wanted to do was play soccer and she’s always understood college isn’t negotiable, it’s a necessity. We’ll help her get there as long as she does her part.”

Pulpaneck considers Amber one of her own kids, and because of this, it brought her even more joy when she found out which college Amber will be attending.

“She’s going to make an impact in this world for sure,” Pulpaneck said. “I see her probably getting in there that first year and making an impact in that team, but also after college seeing what she’s going to do in this world and making her footprint is going to be pretty cool.”