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Women's Soccer by Rhiannon Potkey

Alexandria Gambala Featured in Ventura County Star's College Notebook

CARSON -- Making her return to college soccer after a brief track and field career at Fresno State, junior Alexandria Gambala now calls Cal State Dominguez Hills home, where she has earned a starting role for the Toros.

Gambala was featured in the Ventura Star County's COLLEGE NOTEBOOK.  Here's the text to the story below, courtesy of VCStar.com's Rhiannon Potkey:

College Notebook: Gambala enjoys return to soccer at CS Dominguez Hills

Alexandria Gambala (Hueneme, Oxnard College) thought she had rid soccer completely from her system.

After graduating from high school, Gambala decided to hang up her cleats and join the Fresno State track team as a walk-on.

But every time she watched Fresno State's women's soccer team play, Gambala felt a tug to get back on the field.

"I realized my love for soccer was still there," Gambala said. "I kept thinking about it more and more and the feeling kept getting stronger. It didn't go away even after three years, so I knew it was what I wanted to do."

Gambala transferred to Oxnard College to play soccer last season, and was recruited to Cal State Dominguez Hills.

The 5-foot-4 junior defender is starting for the Toros this season, a role she didn't expect to earn so quickly.

"It's been surprising because I figured with so many years off I would be behind the girls who had been playing since they were little with no breaks," Gambala said. "But I am definitely grateful, and I am taking every opportunity to show I want my spot."

Before deciding to leave Fresno State and pursue soccer again, Gambala consulted with her parents.

"They reassured me that whatever I wanted to do they had my back," said Gambala, who ran the 800 at Fresno State. "I really loved my time at Fresno State, but, athletically, soccer was my fulfillment and what I wanted to do. I knew playing soccer would really make me happy and I don't really regret it at all."

But Gambala realized trying to play at Fresno State wasn't an option.
"After taking three years off, jumping right to the Division I level would have been too hard," she said. "I knew I had to get some more fundamentals down and going back to a JC would be the best way. It really helped me get back into it."

Gambala's older sister, Samantha, 26, played four years of soccer at Boise State. The two have a close relationship, and Gambala, 22, often seeks her advice.

"She comes and supports me at my games and I am definitely appreciative of that," Gambala said. "She has always been there for me, and I think she is happy that I am back playing. She wasn't very much of a track fan. She didn't get why people would just run. But she understands soccer."

Gambala is majoring in kinesiology with hopes of becoming a physical therapist or athletic trainer. But rather than rush into the working world, Gambala wants to savor a few more years on the soccer field.

"It feels great to be back playing," she said. "I really missed it, and I would just like to grow as much as I can and become the best player I can while I'm here."
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