irismora

Record-breaking Iris Mora surpasses challenges of transition from Mexico

By Jonathan Lee
DAILY BRUIN CONTRIBUTOR
jlee@media.ucla.edu

By Jonathan Lee

BRUIN SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR

jlee3@media.ucla.edu

Don't let her size fool you.

Iris Mora stands tall. You can tell just by watching her.

Although she is only 5 feet, 2 inches (shortest on the team), Mora has been vital in propelling the No. 4 UCLA women's soccer team to national prominence in her four-year career.

"She's had an unbelievable career, and I think she's developed as a player and grown as a person," said coach Jill Ellis. "I can't say enough great things about Iris. She's just a tremendous player. She gives you chills because she plays so fiery."

Indeed, Mora's play for the Bruins has been nothing short of spectacular. Her incredible ball skills and feel for the game have allowed Mora to stamp her name all over UCLA's record books. She is currently ranked second all-time in points (two points per goal, one per assist) with 94 and holds the school record in assists with 34. She is also a two-time All-American and three-time All-Pac-10 selection.

"I think (playing at UCLA) is just the greatest experience ever because I never thought I could play for a college team," Mora said. "Just to have the opportunity that Jill Ellis gave me, it's been awesome.

"Also meeting these incredible people that I play with, it's had a great impact on my life. Just to play college and play with great players at a great level, it has just been great."

But it wasn't always as easy as Mora makes it seem on the soccer field. Things most athletes or students at UCLA take for granted such as speaking English or taking classes were at first difficult for Mora.

You see, Mora took a chance in ever coming to the United States. Although many athletes grow up dreaming about playing for a school such as UCLA, Mora was already climbing to the top of her sport long before entering college.

Born and raised in Mexico, Mora started playing for her national team at the age of 15. She has since become one of the best forwards for the soccer-crazed nation, and her talents have allowed her to compete on the world's biggest stages. In 2004 she competed in Athens, Greece, for the Mexican Olympic team, and in 1999, she played in the Pan American Games as well as the Women's World Cup.

But four years ago, Mora's world changed. Through a friend who played at Notre Dame and was also on the Mexican National Team, Ellis heard about a passionate young forward who could potentially star for the Bruins.

"I went to see her play in Azteca, which is one of the most storied stadiums in the world, in front of 90,000 people when Mexico played Japan," Ellis said. "I saw Iris and we started the recruiting process."

Soon after, Mora made the decision to come to UCLA and was rated the No. 8 incoming recruit by Soccer America. After waiting a year to be admitted to school, Mora began her Bruin career.

But the change of cultures came as a shock to Mora. Before, all she had to worry about was playing soccer. Now she had to juggle schoolwork with her practice schedule and playing games.

"School life was hard to get adjusted," Mora said. "I had just played with the national team for four years. Just to come back and have school and soccer at the same time was the hard part."

The language barrier that at first existed between her and her fellow coaches and teammates also made the transition difficult.

"To speak English, to do everything in English, to understand what (the coaches and my teammates) were saying," Mora said. "Language was the hard part because besides that the soccer wasn't different. Same rules, same game."

Even though Mora had some trouble adjusting, it didn't show on the field as she was able to score seven goals and was selected second-team All-Pac-10 her freshman year.

"I think her first year was a big adjustment for her," said Ellis. "But one of the things I know about Iris is when she's happy and comfortable and has connections with people, she's a better soccer player. Throughout her career, the more comfortable she's become, the more productive she's become."

"After the first season, my second year was a very good year for me," Mora said. "Its been better and better. It's been much easier than before."

Both coach and player understood that coming to UCLA would be extremely difficult, but having gone through the process together, the two have formed a mutual bond, respect, and admiration for one another.

"Iris is a very passionate person in every aspect of her life," Ellis said of her star forward. "Soccer has been her world. Coming from Mexico, it's just a huge part of their life and culture.

"Once she embraced the people here, I think she felt more comfortable and it translated into being happy on the field."

Mora attributes that happiness to being more comfortable with not only school, the language and culture, but most of all with her coach.

"I think Jill is one of the best persons ever," Mora said of her coach. "She's just great. I had a good feeling about her, so I really wanted to play for her and (UCLA). She's been like my mother since I got here. She's been my support. My coach and my teammates keep me here working hard every day."

Now that she has established herself here, Mora has expanded her horizons beyond the soccer field. When she's finished with her soccer career, Mora hopes to use her degree in Spanish to become a translator.

Still, Mora doesn't want her soccer playing days to come to an end just yet. On Friday, she'll lead her team in the first round of the NCAA playoffs. She hopes it will end with UCLA's third consecutive appearance in the College Cup and the program's first national championship. After that, Mora hopes to play professional soccer.

Win or lose, however, Mora has made her decision to come to the United States worthwhile.

"Iris is a player that took a risk coming here," Ellis said. "It was a different country, a different culture, entering an American university, but I think if you were to ask her, it's paid off. She's very dear to me."

Mora also has no regrets with her decision to come to UCLA. In fact, she believes it to be one of the best choices she's ever made.

"I'm a better person since I got here," Mora said. "Every year has been better and better. It changed everything, including my perspective in life. Now I want to do more, not just soccer."