Velasquez plays in the Women’s World Cup

To many, Ori Velasquez is just another face in the crowd during Welcome Week, another student at IU.

To her teammates and coaching staff, she’s a starting junior forward for the IU women’s soccer team and now a big name as well.

“Many freshmen talk to me and say I’m famous because I was in the World Cup,” Velasquez said. “I say I’m not.”

Velasquez hails from Bogota, Colombia. During the summer, she represented her country in its first appearance in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

“I got a great opportunity to play against Sweden, the United States and North Korea,” she said. “I try to put all that for IU and help my team get to the (NCAA tournament).”
IU Coach Mick Lyon said playing on soccer’s biggest stage enhanced Ori’s ability to play with pace.

“She plays with such composure on the ball,” Lyon said. “I think other players — attacking players particularly — see that. Her speed of play is phenomenal. You can’t play against the U.S. national team — or any other national team — and not come away going, ‘I know how to play quickly.’ That’s what she does.”

Colombian Coach Ricardo Rozo inserted Velasquez as a substitute in the second half of the match against the United States. Though the United States defeated Colombia 3-0, Velasquez created the last scoring opportunity of the match when she attempted a shot on goal in the 85th minute. United States goalkeeper Hope Solo made the save.
Velasquez and her teammates bounced back four days later to earn a 0-0 draw versus North Korea, scoring the first point for Colombia in a World Cup play.

“She played phenomenally in that second half against the U.S.,” Lyon said. “She was player of the match against North Korea. (Her play in Germany) absolutely elevated her confidence.”

“She’s come back with her head held so high,” he said. “She is full of confidence. It showed in that free kick she had against Evansville. That was one of the best free kicks I’ve ever seen in college soccer. It was tremendous.”

Velasquez’s return to Bloomington caused some players to gravitate toward her. They inquired how to transition into the college game.

“Sometimes, they ask me questions about what they can do,” Velasquez said. “I give them advice when I see something wrong. I try to play and be the model on the field, encourage them to do better and get confident.”

She abides by the philosophy of her national team when she is on the pitch.    
“Dribbling the ball and playing simple — that is the way I play,” she said. “Trying to find that timing. I’m trying to calm down and play easy and find the best player, the best position and the best place to score.”

Though she is working to help her team reach an NCAA tournament, she recognizes soccer is a game. As a result, she wants her teammates to relish their opportunity here.

“Enjoy the soccer,” she said. “That is the most important part, to play this sport. Just
enjoy (it).”