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Photo by: Jermaine Bibb | Louisville Athletics
Sarah Hernandez Doesn’t Take Her Team for Granted
April 09, 2020 | Women's Soccer
2,000 miles from UofL, Sarah Hernandez still stays connected with her teammates
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - After a successful sophomore campaign that culminated with the lone goal in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Sarah Hernandez was eager for the chance to improve and develop during the spring season.
However, the coronavirus pandemic forced those plans to come to an abrupt halt.
"It's sad that we had to cut our spring season short, but we understand that we needed to in order to take the precautionary measures necessary for the current situation," said Hernandez, who added how the team was doing really well in training before it was cut short.
Now back home in Moorpark, Calif., Hernandez is faced with finding a new normal in the midst of COVID-19. In between playing board games, making dinner with her family, and binge-watching Grey's Anatomy, she has taken a creative approach to staying in shape.
"I don't have weights that would be heavy enough to continue what we were doing back in Louisville, so I put a bunch of heavy books in a backpack that I use for weighted exercises," said Hernandez, who has also been biking and going for runs in her neighborhood.
Hernandez, who has always been family-oriented, doesn't get to come home often due to the long distance from Louisville. She is grateful for the time she has been able to spend with her parents and sisters at their home in Southern California.
But she misses her second family: her teammates.
"We are all so close and spend so much time together, so being away from them for so long and unexpectedly definitely makes me realize you cannot take anything for granted," she said.
Hernandez and the rest of the UofL women's soccer team has stayed connected through group messages, Snapchat, and social media. Although it's difficult to not see each other every day, their communication has helped them stay motivated and active during this time apart.
"Our main goal right now is to do everything possible to not let the separation influence our goals for the fall," she said.
Hernandez started all 20 matches for UofL as a center back and concluded the year with three goals. Following a successful run in 2019, she and the Cardinals are ready to take on the upcoming 2020 season despite the setback of not being able to train together during the spring months.
"I have no doubt we will pick up right where we left off when we all come back together, whenever that may be," Hernandez said.
However, the coronavirus pandemic forced those plans to come to an abrupt halt.
"It's sad that we had to cut our spring season short, but we understand that we needed to in order to take the precautionary measures necessary for the current situation," said Hernandez, who added how the team was doing really well in training before it was cut short.
Now back home in Moorpark, Calif., Hernandez is faced with finding a new normal in the midst of COVID-19. In between playing board games, making dinner with her family, and binge-watching Grey's Anatomy, she has taken a creative approach to staying in shape.
"I don't have weights that would be heavy enough to continue what we were doing back in Louisville, so I put a bunch of heavy books in a backpack that I use for weighted exercises," said Hernandez, who has also been biking and going for runs in her neighborhood.
Hernandez, who has always been family-oriented, doesn't get to come home often due to the long distance from Louisville. She is grateful for the time she has been able to spend with her parents and sisters at their home in Southern California.
But she misses her second family: her teammates.
"We are all so close and spend so much time together, so being away from them for so long and unexpectedly definitely makes me realize you cannot take anything for granted," she said.
Hernandez and the rest of the UofL women's soccer team has stayed connected through group messages, Snapchat, and social media. Although it's difficult to not see each other every day, their communication has helped them stay motivated and active during this time apart.
"Our main goal right now is to do everything possible to not let the separation influence our goals for the fall," she said.
Hernandez started all 20 matches for UofL as a center back and concluded the year with three goals. Following a successful run in 2019, she and the Cardinals are ready to take on the upcoming 2020 season despite the setback of not being able to train together during the spring months.
"I have no doubt we will pick up right where we left off when we all come back together, whenever that may be," Hernandez said.
Players Mentioned
MF
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