Photo by: Joseph Craven
Guerra giving her all for Wright State
10/4/2019 2:15:00 PM | Women's Soccer
by Alan Hieber
In soccer it's often the unsung defenders at midfield who are having an impact on the outcome of a match. Wright State has one such player who has already achieved international success with her home nation of Trinidad and Tobago - senior midfielder/defender Naomie Guerra.
When she sat down for an interview Guerra was sporting a fashionable braided hairstyle with a top knot. She also spoke with a distinct Caribbean accent.
In 2018 Guerra got a taste of World Cup qualifying competition when playing in the CONCACAF women's championship – a tournament including teams from North and Central America and Caribbean nations.
With Trinidad and Tobago, Guerra played against Mexico and the United States women's national teams in the group stage. Despite respective 4-1 and 7-0 defeats in North Carolina and not qualifying for the 2019 World Cup, she enjoyed the experience and be on the same field with one of her favorite players from the USWNT – Carli Lloyd.
"It was a good experience and a pleasure and a honor to play those people. It's fast paced - I can tell you that," Guerra said. "You meet a lot of competitors that share the same love for the game as you and it's the same thing in college. Everybody is fighting for a spot on their team."
After attending high school in her home country, Guerra elected to play soccer for NAIA college William Carey in Hattiesburg, Miss. She had a two-year stint there before deciding to transfer to Wright State.
As a Raider Guerra hasn't filled up the stat sheet on the offensive side of the ball, but she has been a significant defensive asset for her team.
"She knows this game inside and out and can anticipate plays very well, which is important on defense. She is also super technical – not a common trait of defenders," defender Andrea Gomez said. "That makes her a secret danger on the attack as well."
What Guerra might be best at though is her dedication to keeping in top shape.
"She is also a fitness freak, so she sets a good standard," Raider head coach Pat Ferguson said.
"Whether it's doing casual push ups on bus rides to games or curling in hotel rooms (once with a sock tied to a chair), she is always sneaking in a lift whenever and however she can," Gomez said. "If I don't know where to find her, I can usually walk down to our apartment complex weight room and see her there."
During her time with Wright State Guerra has been impressed with the comradery of her teammates and coaches.
"My teammates are so supportive, and the coaching staff is as well. We push each other every day to do well (on the field) - also from an academic standpoint," she said. "Soccer is my incentive to do well in school. This school has showed me how to balance the two together.
"I like that they (coaches) want to bring out the best in us. They let us know nothing is handed to you in life and that is what soccer is all about - teaching you subliminally what you're going to come across in life."
As a fellow defender, Gomez has been a mentor for Guerra.
"She (Gomez) has such a unique personality and is so motivating," Guerra said. She comes to you in a time that you're probably down a bit and says, 'Hey, it's okay buddy.'"
There are several areas where Guerra feels that she has improved while at WSU.
"I would say first of all strength because I was a little wick when I came here," she said. "I've gotten even faster, and mentally I have gotten stronger here because of the competition."
With the experiences representing her national team and WPSL club Pensacola FC this past summer, Guerra has her eyes set on playing professionally one day.
"I hope to play professionally - anywhere I could grasp with my fists. I hope to continue playing with my country after this, get a stint in the Olympics or even the World Cup as you see the improvements across the Caribbean nations," Guerra said. "Jamaica made it to the World Cup, which gives Trinidad and Tobago hope."
As an organizational leadership major Guerra is also looking to hone her skills as a possible soccer coach one day.
"I've gained lot of knowledge since coming here and have a lot of friendships. I hope to learn something that I could carry on over later in life," Guerra said. "Organizational leadership has taught me a lot of things I didn't know before about leadership - how it might not just be a demanding thing, but it's an emotional thing as well."
Sitting at 2-1 in conference play, Wright State has much of it's Horizon League slate ahead. You can probably guarantee that Guerra will have some impact on what happens moving forward for the Raiders.
In soccer it's often the unsung defenders at midfield who are having an impact on the outcome of a match. Wright State has one such player who has already achieved international success with her home nation of Trinidad and Tobago - senior midfielder/defender Naomie Guerra.
When she sat down for an interview Guerra was sporting a fashionable braided hairstyle with a top knot. She also spoke with a distinct Caribbean accent.
In 2018 Guerra got a taste of World Cup qualifying competition when playing in the CONCACAF women's championship – a tournament including teams from North and Central America and Caribbean nations.
With Trinidad and Tobago, Guerra played against Mexico and the United States women's national teams in the group stage. Despite respective 4-1 and 7-0 defeats in North Carolina and not qualifying for the 2019 World Cup, she enjoyed the experience and be on the same field with one of her favorite players from the USWNT – Carli Lloyd.
"It was a good experience and a pleasure and a honor to play those people. It's fast paced - I can tell you that," Guerra said. "You meet a lot of competitors that share the same love for the game as you and it's the same thing in college. Everybody is fighting for a spot on their team."
After attending high school in her home country, Guerra elected to play soccer for NAIA college William Carey in Hattiesburg, Miss. She had a two-year stint there before deciding to transfer to Wright State.
As a Raider Guerra hasn't filled up the stat sheet on the offensive side of the ball, but she has been a significant defensive asset for her team.
"She knows this game inside and out and can anticipate plays very well, which is important on defense. She is also super technical – not a common trait of defenders," defender Andrea Gomez said. "That makes her a secret danger on the attack as well."
What Guerra might be best at though is her dedication to keeping in top shape.
"She is also a fitness freak, so she sets a good standard," Raider head coach Pat Ferguson said.
"Whether it's doing casual push ups on bus rides to games or curling in hotel rooms (once with a sock tied to a chair), she is always sneaking in a lift whenever and however she can," Gomez said. "If I don't know where to find her, I can usually walk down to our apartment complex weight room and see her there."
During her time with Wright State Guerra has been impressed with the comradery of her teammates and coaches.
"My teammates are so supportive, and the coaching staff is as well. We push each other every day to do well (on the field) - also from an academic standpoint," she said. "Soccer is my incentive to do well in school. This school has showed me how to balance the two together.
"I like that they (coaches) want to bring out the best in us. They let us know nothing is handed to you in life and that is what soccer is all about - teaching you subliminally what you're going to come across in life."
As a fellow defender, Gomez has been a mentor for Guerra.
"She (Gomez) has such a unique personality and is so motivating," Guerra said. She comes to you in a time that you're probably down a bit and says, 'Hey, it's okay buddy.'"
There are several areas where Guerra feels that she has improved while at WSU.
"I would say first of all strength because I was a little wick when I came here," she said. "I've gotten even faster, and mentally I have gotten stronger here because of the competition."
With the experiences representing her national team and WPSL club Pensacola FC this past summer, Guerra has her eyes set on playing professionally one day.
"I hope to play professionally - anywhere I could grasp with my fists. I hope to continue playing with my country after this, get a stint in the Olympics or even the World Cup as you see the improvements across the Caribbean nations," Guerra said. "Jamaica made it to the World Cup, which gives Trinidad and Tobago hope."
As an organizational leadership major Guerra is also looking to hone her skills as a possible soccer coach one day.
"I've gained lot of knowledge since coming here and have a lot of friendships. I hope to learn something that I could carry on over later in life," Guerra said. "Organizational leadership has taught me a lot of things I didn't know before about leadership - how it might not just be a demanding thing, but it's an emotional thing as well."
Sitting at 2-1 in conference play, Wright State has much of it's Horizon League slate ahead. You can probably guarantee that Guerra will have some impact on what happens moving forward for the Raiders.
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