Tucson’s three college soccer teams are a combined 51-8-6, which sounds like either Jennie Finch’s pitching record or Lute Olson’s career against Arizona State.
Either way, the first chapter in the book of “How Tucson Became a Soccer City” will always be titled “Humble Beginnings,” which isn’t as clever as it is true.
The Arizona Wildcats, who are 12-5-2 entering Friday’s NCAA Tournament opener at Mulcahy Stadium, weren’t around for the Pac-10’s launch of women’s soccer in 1993. When the UA finally hired a coach in the winter of ‘94, the conversation between athletic director Jim Livengood and would-be coach Lisa Fraser was a bit awkward.