By Scott Nulph
WyoSports 

Staying together

Laramie’s Romero, Pulley both commit to UW soccer prior to junior year

 

August 3, 2016



LARAMIE – Sekoya Romero and Lexi Pulley have been playing soccer together for as long as they can remember.

That run will continue for some time to come.

The Laramie High standouts – who led the Lady Plainsmen to the Class 4A state soccer title in May as sophomores – committed to the University of Wyoming to play soccer when their high school careers are finished.

They both announced their commitments on Twitter. Romero’s pledge came Sunday and Pulley followed Monday.

“I’m super excited because I’ve played soccer with (Romero) since we were around 6 years old,” Pulley said. “It’s always so much fun to play with her. I always know where she’s at and she knows where I’m at.”

Added Romero: “To get to keep playing with (Pulley) and go to college with my best friend is amazing. It doesn’t always happen to people these days so we’re definitely lucky.”

Romero – who missed almost all of her freshman season with a knee injury – and Pulley dominated 4A this spring, going 15-3-1 to win the program’s first state title since 2010.

Romero led the state in goals with 23 while Pulley ranked third with 21. Pulley also recorded a 4A-best 13 assists while Romero added nine.

Their talent and athleticism were simply too much for UW to pass on. Both were offered scholarships early this summer.

The Cowgirls went 10-6-4 last year and finished fourth in the Mountain West under coach Pete Cuadrado. In 2014 Wyoming was 11-9-1 and was second in the MW at 8-3-0 before advancing to the MW tournament championship match for only the second time in program history.

For Romero, it was a fairly easy decision.

But for Pulley, there were other factors involved. Pulley’s sister – Jacqui – will be a junior with the University of Northern Colorado soccer program this fall. The Bears also offered the younger Pulley but, in the end, playing for the hometown program was too good to pass up.

“I thought about it a lot, because I was also interested in (Northern Colorado),” she said. “They also offered me and it was a tough decision. The University of Wyoming was just a better fit for me.”

Laramie coach Kim Whisenant was an assistant coach for the Cowgirls from 2002-2010. She knew early on that both Romero and Pulley had the talent to play college soccer.

But coaching both players the past two seasons, convinced Whisenant that being talented is only part of the equation with this duos’ success.

“Both of them have been such a joy to be around,” Whisenant said. “Not only do they work hard, but they’re great individuals and day in and day out they grind to get better. They have a goal in mind and they just set their mind to achieving that.

“They’re very competitive and very driven young ladies and they make my job easy.”

Romero and Pulley are part of a young Plainsmen roster that will be the favorites for more state titles the next two seasons. LHS lost only one senior – goalie McKenna Worden – for next year.

And with both players playing without the stress of having to figure out their college destination, it could be a long couple of years for the rest of 4A girls soccer.

“I know a bunch of friends who are worried about what college to go to, so I’m happy I got that out of the way,” Romero said.

Added Pulley: “I really love the coaching staff and I love the academics here. It’s very organized and a great fit for what I’m trying to go into. I’m excited for this to happen.”

 
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