With a pair of impressive wins last weekend San Diego’s second place WPSL team, San Diego United (9-1-2) is headed for the league playoffs. Saturday’s 3-0 victory over the San Diego Sea Lions and their 9-0 drubbing of the hapless PSSCV Rooks on Sunday insured United a spot in the postseason. Contributing her speed, agility and passing ability to both games was former Cal State Dominguez Hills forward Yvonne Vasquez. Vasquez has found a home in San Diego and enjoys playing for coach, Elio Bello and San Diego United.

 “If I hadn’t have found out about this team I probably would have been done playing when I graduated last fall,” Vasquez said. “United has given me the opportunity to continue and so far things have been good.”

 Still, playing in the WPSL it is a struggle. While the WPSL is an elite league the players here are not compensated.

 “This has been kind of a break for me. It is nice for once to not have to focus on either school or work. I am just playing soccer. I have experienced so much this summer,” Vas-quez said.

 When she arrived there were no guarantees that she would even make the team.

 “In the beginning Elio didn’t know who I was so I was just trying to gain a spot on this team. I feel like I have improved every week, but I still have something to prove. I have been used mostly as a forward, but sometimes he puts me out on the wing.” A couple of weeks back Vazquez garnered Player of the Week honors.

 While she enjoys it, playing for United is not her ultimate goal.

 “I am looking at this experience as a stepping stone. Depending on how things work out I will take it from there, but I have already committed to playing here next year.”

 One possibility for next season would be for Vasquez to gain a tryout with a team in the nation’s top professional league, WPS. A second possibility is even more intriguing, a shot a playing with Mexico’s wo-men’s national team.

 During the current United season, Vasquez participated in her first Mexican national team training camp.

 “They had a tryout up in Pomona about three or four weeks ago. They asked me to come back, so now I am just waiting for their call so that I can go to another training session.”

 In the meantime Vasquez has the United season occupying her attention. The wins last weekend punch the team’s ticket to San Francisco were it will compete in the WPSL playoffs next weekend. United plays at USD for their last home game of the season on Saturday at 6:30 against the Claremont Stars and then travels north on Sunday evening to Victor Valley Community College to close out the regular season against SoCal Rush.