Alan Samson
Sports editor
Cintia Lamas began playing soccer in her home country of Brazil when she moved to an apartment where all the kids her age were always playing outside of their homes. She had never played, but she said she wanted to learn the game to be able to make friends.
“I started when I was 11. There were only guys my age at the apartments, so if I wanted to play, I had to learn,” said Lamas.
She realized she had a talent for the game when she began to be recruited for college teams here in America. She had offers from multiple schools, but she chose Shorter because the assistant coach was also from Brazil and came to one of her games over the summer break.
“She came to one of my games, liked what she saw and talked to me about coming to the U.S. and Shorter,” said Lamas.
Shorter already had a couple of Brazilians on the team, including Helena Farinha and Aline Tamiosso, so Lamas said it was an easier transition for her to come from her home country and into a new culture.
This past season was Lamas’ third season at Shorter. She scored one goal: the game-winning goal against Converse College. She also finished the season fourth overall for shots on goal. She has scored a goal in both of the past two seasons with countless other assists.
Lamas said that what she loves most about soccer is the fact that everyone on the team must come together and give everything they have in order to win.
“It does not matter if someone is having a great day or a really bad one- if there is no team bond, there is no victory,” said Lamas. “People should give everything they have in every single game and overcome limits to achieve success.”
Head coach Benjamin Birdsong said the passion Cintia brings to games and practices “is infectious.”
“Her attitude and desire makes everyone on the team play better. Quite simply, she leads by example,” said Birdsong. “That quality is invaluable to a team striving for success.”
Lamas said that Shorter taught her a connection between God and playing a sport that she had never really grasped before.
“Shorter showed me something that I will never forget: we are not only playing for ourselves, but for someone else,” said Lamas. “All the glory we achieve from success is for the Lord; it is to praise Him and be joyful for what He has done for us.”
Lamas is poised to continue her success at Shorter as she becomes a staple in the offense next year as a returning senior.
“She is one of the best players on our team and she will only get better— she has every year I’ve known her,” said sophomore goalkeeper Haley Lademann.
Lamas is one of the many international players to watch on the Lady Hawk’s soccer team. Lademann said Lamas, however, is one of the most exciting players to step on the pitch.
“Every time she touches the ball, something big can happen for our team. She is a playmaker out there,” said Lademann.
