Texas Border Business
RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley women’s soccer team learned this week that freshman Mari Liis Lillemae has been called up to join the Estonian National Team for its upcoming UEFA Women’s Championship Qualification match.
“I am very excited to be called up again,” Lillemae said. “It has been a while. Because of the whole pandemic, I wasn’t able to go last semester. I want to go and represent Estonia and I am happy to be a part of the team. It is definitely an honor to do that and it means a lot to me.”
Lillemae left UTRGV’s match at UTSA on Sunday at halftime to begin her trip to join the national team. Lillemae has started all four matches for UTRGV this season.
Estonia will face Slovenia on Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 10 a.m. in its final match of the qualification round. Lillemae is scheduled to rejoin UTRGV next week in time for its home match against Chicago State on Feb. 27.
“Representing your country is a tremendous achievement,” UTRGV head coach Glad Bugariu said. “Mari has been a major contributor to the Estonian National Team for a number of years. She continues to grow as a player and has a bright future ahead of her.”
