With a Memorial High School “Class of MMXIX” quilt draped in the background, Yudith Banda was literally at home when she signed a letter of intent with Oklahoma Panhandle State University to continue her soccer career Monday afternoon.

Pretty soon, home will become Goodwell, Oklahoma.

“The experience of just moving away from home, seeing other places and experiencing new things, going alone and finding out how the world is,” Banda said, is what she anticipates most. Before then, she’s sure to receive a few more embraces from her mother Margarita, like the one right after Banda signed.

The center back wrapped up a four-year varsity career that saw her earn all-district honors in three different districts (21-6A as a freshman, 22-5A as a sophomore and 21-5A as a senior). More importantly for her, she got to lead the Lady Titans into their first UIL playoff in nine years after missing her entire junior season due to a foot infection.

“After that I kept practicing and practicing until soccer season came around this year,” Banda said.”

Banda said the playoff appearance increased her visibility among college recruits. She also competed in the Southeast Texas Soccer Showcase earlier this month in Port Neches.

While not a big scoring threat as a senior, second-year Lady Titans head coach Daniel Garcia said Banda’s intangibles helped her become one of the most skilled players he’s coached.

“She was pretty much a utility player,” he said. “Beginning of the year, we started her out in midfield. I think we moved her at some striker, but once district started, we had some tough opponents and we had to put her on defense, for sure, facing those Nederlands and PNGs.”

Panhandle is an NAIA university that is just beginning intercollegiate women’s soccer play this fall. Mike Rosso, named in March as the program’s first head coach, recently served in the role at Northeast Texas Community College in Mount Pleasant.

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I.C. Murrell: 721-2435. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews