By CAYDEN SANDERS
Tiger Media Network
Fans of the Fort Hays State University women’s soccer team might have noticed an absence on the pitch during the opening weeks of the season. Junior forward Montserrat Diaz, who scored four goals and contributed 10 points to the Tigers last season, has instead spent time playing for her home country in the U-20 World Cup. For Diaz, representing her home country on the Costa Rican National U-20 team was a dream realized.
“Growing up, I have always wanted to represent my country. Being able to play for the U-20 team for Costa Rica has been like a dream come true,” Diaz said.
As part of the Costa Rican U-20 team, Diaz has missed the first four matches of the 2024 FHSU season; however, that hasn’t inhibited her from training during her time away.
“The workouts and the practices are completely different in intensity,” Diaz said. “For Costa Rica, its going up against some of the best athletes in the world that play in the tournament. But when I am with Fort Hays the intensity is the same but the conditioning is a little different.”
Costa Rica was placed in U-20 World Cup Group F with North Korea, Netherlands and Argentina, and played their matches earlier this month.
For Diaz the experience of competing on a world stage was something she will always remember.
“For a country like Costa Rica, football (Soccer) is all we know. We don’t really have any other sports, we all watch and grow up playing football,” Diaz said. “There was a lot of people there and so being selected to be the top 21 to represent my country was quite the surprise.”
While Costa Rica was outscored by 12 goals and knocked out in the group stage, Diaz, who led Costa Rica in pressing time applied, talks about the support she received before and during the competition.
“A lot of people back home (Costa Rica) were cheering us on from wherever they were watching. The support that I got from my country was amazing in that we all had a lot of national pride to play,” Diaz said. “But my teammates from FHSU and the coaching staff all supported me in my decision to play for my country. They all wanted me to go and they showed their support by watching and texting me.”
Diaz also supported her collegiate team while playing for Costa Rica. FHSU went 1-1-2 during Diaz’s absence from the team, but that didn’t stop her from watching the matches and cheering her teammates on.
“I was watching all of the games that I could while I was in Columbia. I love my girls and I will support them, because they support me,” Diaz said.
Although her time competing with Costa Rica is over, Diaz is glad to be back with the Tigers and to compete under the black and gold.
“I am greatful I had the oppertunity to play for my national team, but I am also glad that I am back to play at Fort Hays State,” Diaz said.
Diaz returns to the Tigers’ lineup today in their match against Southwestern Oklahoma State. First touch is scheduled for 5 p.m. in Weatherford, Okla.
North Korea and Japan will compete for the U-20 World Cup championship on Sunday.