DENVER – Fort Lupton’s Reygan Garcia finished her high-school soccer career as part of the Colorado High School Coaches Association’s all-state girls soccer game at Colorado Academy June 13.

 “It was fun. I met a lot of people, and it was fun to touch the ball again,” she said.

The last time she played was in May.

“We practiced at 10 a.m. this morning (June 13), and then we came back at 6 and played the game.”

There were some designed plays, but there was no team chemistry.

 “It was hard to know where everyone was going,” she said. “It didn’t matter. It was about having fun. It was nerve-wracking. My knee was hurting, but I enjoyed it.”

Garcia, who left the game briefly at the end of the first half, tore her ACL but was able to play for the Bluedevils this spring.

“I want to be more cautious with this because I am going to college (she signed with Northeast Community College in Nebraska earlier this year),” Garcia said. “If anything is bothering me, I take myself out, stretch and then come back in. I had no trouble in the second half.”

She didn’t score a goal. She tried one shot, and it went to the left side of the goal. But she enjoyed watching other players’ skills.

“I’m an adaptive player. So, when I see it, I adapt to it,” Garcia said. “It teaches me to play with the ball. It’s a learning experience. I can take this into college. All the girls were giving constructive criticism. We were helping each other out.”

Garcia said such an approach makes her play harder.

“It comes differently when it comes from a player because you’re working with them,” she said. “Hearing it from them, I take it more to heart.”

Garcia said the game will help her for college soccer.

“I won’t know many of the players when I go to Nebraska,” she said. “Getting their constructive criticism will help me play better and build that chemistry. I’m not a very social person, so going to these kinds of things makes me come out of my shell a lot more.”