Intramural soccer scores big
Jocelyn Sterling
Issue date: 4/16/09 Section: Sports
What has eight arms, two tentacles, and is over 30 feet in length? A colossal squid. What has 14 players, matching uniforms, and a team motto? The Colossal Squids.
The Division II team, The Colossal Squids, is one of 21 teams involved with University of Portland intramural soccer this spring semester. The second most popular sport, shortly behind five on five basketball, soccer is arguably the most exciting to participate in and watch, according to junior Intramural Coordinator Katherine Miller.
Miller thinks this is so because UP is a soccer school.
"Even if they do not play soccer for the school, many students have played soccer in the past and get excited at the UP soccer games," Miller said. "Bringing that excitement into their intramural games makes the leagues even more competitive."
This semester is only the second season the games have been played on the turf field. This also enhances the excitement of the games, as there is professional lighting and the ability to play in any weather condition.
The Colossal Squids have taken the professionalism a step further and is the only team to have matching, official uniforms. The pink tank tops and blue short shorts that don the field on Squid game nights is a sight to be seen.
"We can't reiterate the 'short' aspect of the shorts," sophomore Aaron Davis said. "They allow us to be agile and provide more ventilation. Plus they help show as much skin as possible."
The team members said that the uniforms help team building and self esteem, as it reinforces "looking good."
Although the team is highly professional with their matching short shorts, they have yet managed to win a single game in their two year existence. However, this does not seem to be a concern for the Squid players.
"It depends how you define 'winning,'" said sophomore co-captain Cameron Keilty-Lucas. "We have the most fun on the field and always leave every game smiling. That's winning to us."
The Division II team, The Colossal Squids, is one of 21 teams involved with University of Portland intramural soccer this spring semester. The second most popular sport, shortly behind five on five basketball, soccer is arguably the most exciting to participate in and watch, according to junior Intramural Coordinator Katherine Miller.
Miller thinks this is so because UP is a soccer school.
"Even if they do not play soccer for the school, many students have played soccer in the past and get excited at the UP soccer games," Miller said. "Bringing that excitement into their intramural games makes the leagues even more competitive."
This semester is only the second season the games have been played on the turf field. This also enhances the excitement of the games, as there is professional lighting and the ability to play in any weather condition.
The Colossal Squids have taken the professionalism a step further and is the only team to have matching, official uniforms. The pink tank tops and blue short shorts that don the field on Squid game nights is a sight to be seen.
"We can't reiterate the 'short' aspect of the shorts," sophomore Aaron Davis said. "They allow us to be agile and provide more ventilation. Plus they help show as much skin as possible."
The team members said that the uniforms help team building and self esteem, as it reinforces "looking good."
Although the team is highly professional with their matching short shorts, they have yet managed to win a single game in their two year existence. However, this does not seem to be a concern for the Squid players.
"It depends how you define 'winning,'" said sophomore co-captain Cameron Keilty-Lucas. "We have the most fun on the field and always leave every game smiling. That's winning to us."