'The funnest team in the league': STU students partaking in UNB intramural soccer

Members of the No Ice Plz intramural soccer team. (Submitted: Rafaella Ortega)

Many St. Thomas University (STU) students take the opportunity to play soccer down the hill against the University of New Brunswick (UNB), despite the league being called “Reds Intramurals.” 

Thomas Hamilton, a fourth-year student, and Rafaella Ortega, a third-year student at STU, joined "No Ice Plz," a soccer team organized by UNB student and former UNBSJ Seawolves soccer player Jhon Romero. The team is a mix of players from both schools.

The season runs from the start of the fall semester until the end of November.

Hamilton only played soccer for one year when he was six years old before joining the team after being approached by Romero, his close friend.

Likewise, Ortega is playing on her first soccer intramurals team. Coming from Brazil, she said soccer is part of the “local culture.” 

Despite never playing on an organized team, Ortega grew up playing in backyards and on the street.

“I thought it was a good opportunity to play something and to, you know, move and do exercise in a fun way,” she said.

Each player has to pay a $73 membership fee for use of the Currie Centre. After that, they downloaded an app called Fusion Play, which shows them their weekly schedule and standings.

The team plays matches every Tuesday night. They practice during the week, on weekends, or sporadically when they can get together.

Ortega wasn’t exercising consistently before joining the team. She was in pain after the first couple of games. Now, a few weeks in, she feels her body has caught up with it. 

She said that intramurals are a great way to fit exercise into her school schedule.

Hamilton also added that he loves the health benefits he gets from playing. He said that even when the ball is going the other way and you’re exhausted, you still need to get in position quickly.

 “The other team doesn't care how exhausted you are, they're going to keep pushing, so you have to keep pushing,” he said. 

Ortega thinks that the team is a good way for her to enjoy playing soccer without the stress of playing on an official STU team.

“It's relaxed in the sense that there's nothing really at stake besides the fact of losing or winning. But, we take it seriously in the sense that we want to perform well, but still, it's okay if we [also lose], right? I think the main point is just to play and really be with the team and everything,” she said.

Hamilton thinks that the team is developing their skills and growing stronger. He said that the UNB mechanical engineers have a good team, but that they have aspirations to make the playoffs and go as far as possible.

Ortega said that playing on the team not only helps build a strong community of STU students, but also with UNB students. 

“I got to meet a lot of people and [as a] team, we get along super well, which helps a lot playing games. But also, it's nice to get to know other people,” she said.

Hamilton agrees that strong bonds are being made on the team. He said that their first game was the first for many of the team members. They left the field laughing and satisfied despite losing 8-3.

“Not to brag, but we are by far the funnest team in the league … it's great, it's definitely a good sense of community,” he said.