2028 commits – Nationally Ranked and Youth National Team Players

Included in this segment are some top-level 2028 commits from California and Hawaii going to mid-major and Power 4 programs.   USE THE PROMO CODE almasin30 for a discount on your first subscription   The recruitment window is now in full effect, and players are making commitments in droves.  As some players are taking their time in weighing their options, others have made their decisions to go with some Power 4 as well as mid-major programs.  I've previously covered all of these players in previous features and some in at least 4 or more live evaluations at the ECNL and high school level.   Yet, these top-level players are now off the board and have laid the groundwork for preparing for their next stage in their soccer journey.  With this major hurdle out of the way, they can now decide whether to continue playing high school soccer or solely prepare for collegiate soccer.   One interesting fact about two of these players is that [player_tooltip player_id='266752' first='Kahali'a' last='Huddleston'] and [player_tooltip player_id='354571' first='Cara' last='Gouveia'] are both Hawaii-based players who also compete with teams on the Mainland (California) during spring and summer tournaments to raise their level of competition and to gain additional exposure.  [player_tooltip player_id='354571' first='Cara' last='Gouveia'] is a Punahou varsity player who has helped her team make a deep run into the HHSAA State Tournament final.  Gouveia is going to Sacramento State, a mid-major, and will compete against teams such as SJSU, Saint Mary's, and UOP.  I might be able to get out to at least one of their matches.   [player_tooltip player_id='266752' first='Kahali'a' last='Huddleston'] is a top-level defender who plays for Slammers HB Koge and was named as the BIIF Division II Player of the Year during the 2025-2026 season.  She led her team to a Big Island title and the state semifinals.  One interesting note was that back in the day, I played against Kaha's dad at the high school level and with him on the Maui Cobras U19 team back in the late 80s and early 90s.  Kahale was a standout soccer player as well as a football player.  It was great to have met up with Kaha's mom and dad at ECNL Phoenix last March.   One of the best feelings is letting parents know that their player is Division 1 material.  Now it's just “icing on the cake” or “smooth sailing” from here on out.  It's like coming full circle, as I plan to do more coverage for 808 players, with hopes of getting them to the next levels of soccer. Her choice to play at Seattle University is sound, as it is a top-level mid-major program located on the West Coast.  Not to say that Hawaii players would rather play on the West Coast, but travel might be easier, as they usually have more family members living in those areas.   Next up are [player_tooltip player_id='111094' first='Sophia' last='Malloy'] and Lynn Buyn.  Both players represent a prominent Saint Francis soccer program out of Mountain View, CA.  Malloy and Byun will definitely play a huge part in the Lancers' run in the playoffs, in which two seasons ago they were part of the team who won a treble (league champions, Central Coast Section Title, and a NorCal Title) prior to the last year's state championship inauguration.  Power 4 conferences are on tap for Malloy at Colorado and Byun at ASU (Arizona State University).  Sophia is part of the USYNT pipeline and has had standout matches in ECNL tourneys such as the ECNL National Selection Match, which I covered at ECNL Phoenix last March.   Last but not least, [player_tooltip player_id='223644' first='Liliana' last='Rubio'], the Girls Academy standout at the national playoffs in June, put on one of the best 2nd-half performances I've ever seen.  Lili's technical skills were on full display as she zipped past defenders, made slicing moves in traffic, and finished with precision.  The former Mexico Youth National team player is now eligible for a USYNT squad, so be on the lookout if our national team scouts are ready to give her a run at it.  I fully endorse her as an elite player.  Her move to MVLA, the ECNL powerhouse, is a step in the right direction. Her decision to choose SDSU (San Diego State University) will keep her in California, and she may have a choice to play on either side if the call comes.   Wishing these players the best of luck, and I hope to see them play at the next major ECNL tourney or during high school play.  The excitement, competition, and camaraderie have brought me back to the ranks of coaching varsity girls soccer this winter.  Yet, I will still maintain my duties as a prep soccer scout to cover high school soccer as well as club soccer.  Thanks to all the players, coaches, team managers, and parents for the love and aloha.  See you all soon.   Key Players:   [player_tooltip player_id='266752' first='Kahali'a' last='Huddleston'] (2028) - Defender - Kamehameha Schools, Big Island, HI - Ranked #28 in CA, #17 as a defender, and #116 in the Nation.   [player_tooltip player_id='354571' first='Cara' last='Gouveia'] (2028) - Midfielder - Punahou Schools, Honolulu, HI   [player_tooltip player_id='111094' first='Sophia' last='Malloy'] (2028) - Goalkeeper - Saint Francis High School, Mountain View, CA - Ranked #33 in CA, #3 as a Goalkeeper, and #140 in the Nation.   [player_tooltip player_id='206664' first='Lynn' last='Byun'] (2028) - Midfielder/Defender - Saint Francis High School, Mountain View, CA - Ranked #75 in CA, #51 as a Midfielder, and #233 in the Nation.   [player_tooltip player_id='223644' first='Liliana' last='Rubio'] (2028) - Midfielder/Defender - Clovis West High School, Fresno, CA - Ranked #41 in CA, #30 as a Midfielder, and #93 in the Nation.   Player Evaluations:   [player_tooltip player_id='266752' first='Kahali'a' last='Huddleston'] (2028) - Defender - Kamehameha Schools, Big Island, HI    She is a top-level defender who plays for Slammers HB Koge and was named as the BIIF Division II Player of the Year during the 2025-2026 season.  She led her team to a Big Island title and the state semifinals.  One interesting note was that back in the day, I played against Kaha's dad at the high school level and with him on the Maui Cobras U19 team back in the late 80's and early 90's.  Kahale was a standout soccer player as well as football player.  It was great to have met up with Kaha's mom and dad at ECNL Phoenix last March. Kaha has also won a national championship with the <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/program/slammers-fc-2/">[program_tooltip program_id='283476' first='Slammers' last='FC']</a> HB Koge team during the 2023/2024 season. At the ECNL Phoenix match, she played a solid match in the opener against MVLA. Her ability to shut down running lanes and cut off runners making diagonal runs into the 18-yard box. Kahalia helped to slow down the high-powered MVLA offense by staying calm under pressure and by making clean tackles.    Kaha's Highlights: ECNL Phoenix - Day 1 - Slammers HB Koge vs. MVLA   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/2038769944394125433?s=20 </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='354571' first='Cara' last='Gouveia'] (2028) - Midfielder - Punahou Schools, Honolulu, HI    The [program_tooltip program_id='283443' first='Rebels' last='SC'] and Punahou varsity players have helped her high school team make a deep run into the HHSAA State Tournament final.  Gouveia is going to Sacramento State, a mid-major, and will compete against teams such as SJSU, Saint Mary's, and UOP.  I might be able to get out to at least one of their matches. Her dynamic skills and ability to play as a box-to-box player are where she left her mark. I've seen her play as an attacking mid, but she can transition to the forward position during critical moments. I really liked her calm composure and precise passes. Cara will be back with her varsity team as they make another run to a state final.    Cara's Highlights: Jeff and State Cup 2026   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUeXyKonEmQ </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='111094' first='Sophia' last='Malloy'] (2028) - Goalkeeper - Saint Francis High School, Mountain View, CA    She is part of the USYNT pipeline and has had standout matches in ECNL tourneys such as the ECNL National Selection Match, which I covered at ECNL Phoenix last March. Sophia played lights out and made some great stops while showing her toughness after returning from a collision in the match. She didn't miss a beat once she returned and seemed to have forgotten the previous play while taking on a player making a run on goal. Her ability to read the offense sets her up in the right spots to take away attacking and shooting angles. It will be great to see her back at Saint Francis as the team looks to reload and make another run at a treble and possibly a state championship.    Sophia's Highlights: National Selection Match - ECNL Phoenix   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/2037876592190607664?s=20 </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='206664' first='Lynn' last='Byun'] (2028) - Midfielder/Defender - Saint Francis High School, Mountain View, CA    She will definitely play a huge part in the Lancers' run in the playoffs, in which two seasons ago they were part of the team who won a treble (league champions, Central Coast Section Title, and a NorCal Title) prior to the last year's state championship inauguration.  Lynn is going to Power 4 conferences at ASU (Arizona State University). During my last evaluation, she had a solid match and helped keep the Lancers' attack in sync as they played a tough St. Ignatius team to a 0-0 draw. Her ability to scan the field and find open pockets allowed her teammates to find diagonal running lanes as well as to make overlapping runs in the attacking third. I've previously covered her matches during the previous season as well as in ECNL games. Lynne seems to be getting quicker, stronger, and a bit smoother with the ball at her feet while making turns on a dime.    Lynn's Highlights: Saint Francis at St. Ignatius https://x.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/2015310888467849525?s=20   [player_tooltip player_id='223644' first='Liliana' last='Rubio'] (2028) - Midfielder/Defender - Clovis West High School, Fresno, CA    The Girls Academy standout at the national playoffs in June put on one of the best second-half performances I've ever seen.  Her technical skills were on full display as she zipped past defenders, made slicing moves in traffic, and finished with precision.  Aside from her stellar play on offense, Lili is as lethal as a defender. She can make clean and hard tackles with timing and precision. The former Mexico Youth National team player is now eligible for a USYNT squad, so be on the lookout if our national team scouts are ready to give her a run at it.  I fully endorse her as an elite player.  Her move to MVLA, the ECNL powerhouse, is a step in the right direction.    Lili's Highlights: GA Academy Highlights - Norco, CA   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/2070019040274522621?s=20 </div></figure>   I was fortunate to have been able to ask a few question on recruiting and here are the responses from Lili and Cara. Hope this helps our future Prep Soccer players as they navigate through this challenging part of their soccer journey. Here are the questions and their responses.   <ol class="wp-block-list"> <li>What are three of your strengths as a soccer player?</li>   <li>When did you and your parents decide that you would want to be a collegiate soccer player?</li>   <li>What are some of the things you are currently doing to prepare for your college soccer journey?</li>   <li>What has been your most memorable soccer moment or moments as a soccer player thus far?</li>   <li>Is there a club, collegiate, or professional soccer player who inspires you?</li>   <li>Where do you see yourself or hope to be in your soccer journey in 5–6 years?</li>   <li>Who are the people you would like to thank in supporting you in your soccer journey?</li> </ol>   Liliana "Lili's" Responses   "Three of my biggest strengths as a player are my speed, technical ability, and confidence in 1v1 situations. One thing I've learned throughout this journey is that there is always more to accomplish and more ways to grow."   "Being recruited is not the last step for me—it's the first step. I'm excited to continue working, developing, and pushing myself at the next level."   "One of my most memorable soccer experiences was getting the opportunity to play at CONCACAF. That experience reminded me how much I love this game and how far soccer can take me."   "I'm so excited to see myself continuing my journey at San Diego State University and competing at the collegiate level. Players like Cameron Patton and Julie Doyle have inspired me throughout my journey and have shown me what is possible at the next level."   "Most importantly, I want to thank everyone who has helped me get here. Thank you to all of my coaches at LAMO, Esteban, my coach at MVLA, and most importantly, my parents. Thank you for believing in me, supporting me, and pushing me every step of the way."   Cara's Responses   1. "I would say my three strengths are my speed, technical ability, and my field vision."   2. "For me, I always knew I wanted to play in college. I realized that I want to keep competing and playing a higher level."   3. "I am currently trying to keep getting better in practices and games. Constantly staying in shape and working on my technical skills is helping me prepare for college."   4. "My most memorable moment would definitely be winning nationals back in 2023 with my club team. It was special because my team had worked extremely hard all summer and I also made many core memories with my teammates!"   5. "Caprice Dydasco is someone I definitely look up to. She also happens to be my coach daughter. She is the extremely hard working, kind, and very supportive. She has been in the NWSL for over ten years and recently had her first baby! Seeing that a player from Hawaii going to the mainland and becoming super successful was awesome!"   6. "I hope to still be playing soccer and continuing to get better both as a player and a person."   7. "I would like to thanks my parents, coaches, and teammates for guiding me through this entire journey."   Kaha's Responses   1. What are three of your strengths as a soccer player?   My three strengths as a soccer player are being a leader, being coachable and never giving up when things get rough. Living in Hawaii makes it very difficult for me to get put out there and get recognized and never giving up is one of my biggest things that I go by because I've always been taught that no matter where you go, you always need to show out.   2. When did you and your parents decide that you would want to be a collegiate soccer player?   My parents and I decided that I wanted to be a collegiate soccer player when I was in middle school, specifically my seventh grade year. I decided this because I knew that soccer was a huge passion of mine and I just wanted to pursue it in the long-term.    3. What are some of the things you are currently doing to prepare for your college soccer journey?   Some of the things that I'm doing to prepare for my soccer journey in college is continuing to train whether it's at school on my own time or with other coaches, staff and players. As far as my mental strength goes, I'm preparing by always trying to keep a positive mindset whenever I'm doing any drills or if I'm at any practices.   4. What has been your most memorable soccer moment or moments as a soccer player thus far?   One of my biggest soccer moments was during my freshman year at states in the stadium when we beat our opposing team and got first place in the state D2 title. Another one of my biggest moments/accomplishments was winning the 2024 ECNL national championship.   5. Is there a club, collegiate, or professional soccer player who inspires you?   One professional soccer player who inspires me is Naomi Girma because she is quick off the ball, has great IQ, and is a positive player to her teammates overall.   6. Where do you see yourself or hope to be in your soccer journey in 5–6 years?   In the next five through six years of my soccer career, I would hope to see myself in college pursuing academics and soccer while trying to get recruited for a higher level league.   7. Who are the people you would like to thank in supporting you in your soccer journey?   Some people that I would like to thank in supporting my journey are my parents because they've always been there for me and they make huge sacrifices to help me through my process at getting to the higher level. I would also like to thank any of my teammates because they've always made practices, drills, and camps so much fun. We create the best memories that's unforgettable and create an environment where everyone feels comfortable.

Included in this segment are some top-level 2028 commits from California and Hawaii going to mid-major and Power 4 programs.

USE THE PROMO CODE almasin30 for a discount on your first subscription

The recruitment window is now in full effect, and players are making commitments in droves. As some players are taking their time in weighing their options, others have made their decisions to go with some Power 4 as well as mid-major programs. I've previously covered all of these players in previous features and some in at least 4 or more live evaluations at the ECNL and high school level.

Yet, these top-level players are now off the board and have laid the groundwork for preparing for their next stage in their soccer journey. With this major hurdle out of the way, they can now decide whether to continue playing high school soccer or solely prepare for collegiate soccer.

One interesting fact about two of these players is that Kahali’a Huddleston Kahali’a Huddleston D State #116 Nation CA and Cara Gouveia Cara Gouveia 5'4" | M/F Punahou School | 2028 HI are both Hawaii-based players who also compete with teams on the Mainland (California) during spring and summer tournaments to raise their level of competition and to gain additional exposure. Cara Gouveia Cara Gouveia 5'4" | M/F Punahou School | 2028 HI is a Punahou varsity player who has helped her team make a deep run into the HHSAA State Tournament final. Gouveia is going to Sacramento State, a mid-major, and will compete against teams such as SJSU, Saint Mary's, and UOP. I might be able to get out to at least one of their matches.

Kahali’a Huddleston Kahali’a Huddleston D State #116 Nation CA is a top-level defender who plays for Slammers HB Koge and was named as the BIIF Division II Player of the Year during the 2025-2026 season. She led her team to a Big Island title and the state semifinals. One interesting note was that back in the day, I played against Kaha's dad at the high school level and with him on the Maui Cobras U19 team back in the late 80s and early 90s. Kahale was a standout soccer player as well as a football player. It was great to have met up with Kaha's mom and dad at ECNL Phoenix last March.

One of the best feelings is letting parents know that their player is Division 1 material. Now it's just “icing on the cake” or “smooth sailing” from here on out. It's like coming full circle, as I plan to do more coverage for 808 players, with hopes of getting them to the next levels of soccer. Her choice to play at Seattle University is sound, as it is a top-level mid-major program located on the West Coast. Not to say that Hawaii players would rather play on the West Coast, but travel might be easier, as they usually have more family members living in those areas.

Next up are Sophia Malloy Sophia Malloy GK Saint Francis | 2028 State #140 Nation CA and Lynn Buyn. Both players represent a prominent Saint Francis soccer program out of Mountain View, CA. Malloy and Byun will definitely play a huge part in the Lancers' run in the playoffs, in which two seasons ago they were part of the team who won a treble (league champions, Central Coast Section Title, and a NorCal Title) prior to the last year's state championship inauguration. Power 4 conferences are on tap for Malloy at Colorado and Byun at ASU (Arizona State University). Sophia is part of the USYNT pipeline and has had standout matches in ECNL tourneys such as the ECNL National Selection Match, which I covered at ECNL Phoenix last March.

Last but not least, Liliana Rubio Liliana Rubio 5'2" | M/D Clovis West | 2028 State #93 Nation CA , the Girls Academy standout at the national playoffs in June, put on one of the best 2nd-half performances I've ever seen. Lili's technical skills were on full display as she zipped past defenders, made slicing moves in traffic, and finished with precision. The former Mexico Youth National team player is now eligible for a USYNT squad, so be on the lookout if our national team scouts are ready to give her a run at it. I fully endorse her as an elite player. Her move to MVLA, the ECNL powerhouse, is a step in the right direction. Her decision to choose SDSU (San Diego State University) will keep her in California, and she may have a choice to play on either side if the call comes.

Wishing these players the best of luck, and I hope to see them play at the next major ECNL tourney or during high school play. The excitement, competition, and camaraderie have brought me back to the ranks of coaching varsity girls soccer this winter. Yet, I will still maintain my duties as a prep soccer scout to cover high school soccer as well as club soccer. Thanks to all the players, coaches, team managers, and parents for the love and aloha. See you all soon.

Key Players:

Kahali’a Huddleston Kahali’a Huddleston D State #116 Nation CA (2028) - Defender - Kamehameha Schools, Big Island, HI - Ranked #28 in CA, #17 as a defender, and #116 in the Nation.

Cara Gouveia Cara Gouveia 5'4" | M/F Punahou School | 2028 HI (2028) - Midfielder - Punahou Schools, Honolulu, HI

Sophia Malloy Sophia Malloy GK Saint Francis | 2028 State #140 Nation CA (2028) - Goalkeeper - Saint Francis High School, Mountain View, CA - Ranked #33 in CA, #3 as a Goalkeeper, and #140 in the Nation.

Lynn Byun Lynn Byun 5'5" | M/D Saint Francis | 2028 State #233 Nation CA (2028) - Midfielder/Defender - Saint Francis High School, Mountain View, CA - Ranked #75 in CA, #51 as a Midfielder, and #233 in the Nation.

Liliana Rubio Liliana Rubio 5'2" | M/D Clovis West | 2028 State #93 Nation CA (2028) - Midfielder/Defender - Clovis West High School, Fresno, CA - Ranked #41 in CA, #30 as a Midfielder, and #93 in the Nation.

Player Evaluations:

Kahali’a Huddleston Kahali’a Huddleston D State #116 Nation CA (2028) - Defender - Kamehameha Schools, Big Island, HI

Kahali’a Huddleston

POS D

CLASS 2028

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Kahali’a Huddleston

State: California

Club: Slammers FC ECNL

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Highlights

Kaha's Highlights: ECNL Phoenix - Day 1 - Slammers HB Koge vs. MVLA

Player Spotlight: Kahali’a Huddleston - Slammers FC HB Koge ECNL G2010. Kaha played extremely well in the opening match against MVLA. She helped her team to slow down the high-powered MVLA offense and limit them to just 2 scores. She made clean tackles, strong headers, and… pic.twitter.com/icFtuJVRQd
— Robert Almasin (@BayAreaSocScout) March 31, 2026

Cara Gouveia Cara Gouveia 5'4" | M/F Punahou School | 2028 HI (2028) - Midfielder - Punahou Schools, Honolulu, HI

Cara Gouveia

HEIGHT 5'4"

POS M/F

CLASS 2028

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Cara Gouveia

State: Hawaii

School: Punahou School

Club: Rebels SC

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Highlights

Cara's Highlights: Jeff and State Cup 2026

Sophia Malloy Sophia Malloy GK Saint Francis | 2028 State #140 Nation CA (2028) - Goalkeeper - Saint Francis High School, Mountain View, CA

Sophia Malloy

CA #33

GK #3

POS GK

CLASS 2028

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Sophia Malloy

State: California

School: Saint Francis

She is part of the USYNT pipeline and has had standout matches in ECNL tourneys such as the ECNL National Selection Match, which I covered at ECNL Phoenix last March. Sophia played lights out and made some great stops while showing her toughness after returning from a collision in the match. She didn't miss a beat once she returned and seemed to have forgotten the previous play while taking on a player making a run on goal. Her ability to read the offense sets her up in the right spots to take away attacking and shooting angles. It will be great to see her back at Saint Francis as the team looks to reload and make another run at a treble and possibly a state championship.

Highlights

Sophia's Highlights: National Selection Match - ECNL Phoenix

Top-Level performance by Goalkeeper Sophia Malloy at the ECNL National Selection Match 🥅💯🤙 pic.twitter.com/QaJFvQinGA
— Robert Almasin (@BayAreaSocScout) March 28, 2026

Lynn Byun Lynn Byun 5'5" | M/D Saint Francis | 2028 State #233 Nation CA (2028) - Midfielder/Defender - Saint Francis High School, Mountain View, CA

Lynn Byun

M/D

HEIGHT 5'5"

POS M/D

CLASS 2028

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Lynn Byun

State: California

School: Saint Francis

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Highlights

Lynn's Highlights: Saint Francis at St. Ignatius
https://x.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/2015310888467849525?s=20

Liliana Rubio Liliana Rubio 5'2" | M/D Clovis West | 2028 State #93 Nation CA (2028) - Midfielder/Defender - Clovis West High School, Fresno, CA

Liliana Rubio

CA #41

M/D #30

HEIGHT 5'2"

POS M/D

CLASS 2028

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Liliana Rubio

State: California

School: Clovis West

Club: MVLA ECNL

The Girls Academy standout at the national playoffs in June put on one of the best second-half performances I've ever seen. Her technical skills were on full display as she zipped past defenders, made slicing moves in traffic, and finished with precision. Aside from her stellar play on offense, Lili is as lethal as a defender. She can make clean and hard tackles with timing and precision. The former Mexico Youth National team player is now eligible for a USYNT squad, so be on the lookout if our national team scouts are ready to give her a run at it. I fully endorse her as an elite player. Her move to MVLA, the ECNL powerhouse, is a step in the right direction.

Highlights

Lili's Highlights: GA Academy Highlights - Norco, CA

Standout Players from Day 3 - Girls Academy Showcase, Norco 2026 - Liliana Rubio - Midfielder/Defender - 2028 - #41 in CA, #29 in position, and #94 in the Nation.

She put on one of the best half game performances I’ve ever seen.

Her technical skills are off the charts. She… pic.twitter.com/x15ypt9qca
— Robert Almasin (@BayAreaSocScout) June 25, 2026

I was fortunate to have been able to ask a few question on recruiting and here are the responses from Lili and Cara. Hope this helps our future Prep Soccer players as they navigate through this challenging part of their soccer journey. Here are the questions and their responses.

What are three of your strengths as a soccer player?

When did you and your parents decide that you would want to be a collegiate soccer player?

What are some of the things you are currently doing to prepare for your college soccer journey?

What has been your most memorable soccer moment or moments as a soccer player thus far?

Is there a club, collegiate, or professional soccer player who inspires you?

Where do you see yourself or hope to be in your soccer journey in 5–6 years?

Who are the people you would like to thank in supporting you in your soccer journey?

Liliana "Lili's" Responses

"Three of my biggest strengths as a player are my speed, technical ability, and confidence in 1v1 situations. One thing I've learned throughout this journey is that there is always more to accomplish and more ways to grow."

"Being recruited is not the last step for me—it's the first step. I'm excited to continue working, developing, and pushing myself at the next level."

"One of my most memorable soccer experiences was getting the opportunity to play at CONCACAF. That experience reminded me how much I love this game and how far soccer can take me."

"I'm so excited to see myself continuing my journey at San Diego State University and competing at the collegiate level. Players like Cameron Patton and Julie Doyle have inspired me throughout my journey and have shown me what is possible at the next level."

"Most importantly, I want to thank everyone who has helped me get here. Thank you to all of my coaches at LAMO, Esteban, my coach at MVLA, and most importantly, my parents. Thank you for believing in me, supporting me, and pushing me every step of the way."

Cara's Responses

1. "I would say my three strengths are my speed, technical ability, and my field vision."

2. "For me, I always knew I wanted to play in college. I realized that I want to keep competing and playing a higher level."

3. "I am currently trying to keep getting better in practices and games. Constantly staying in shape and working on my technical skills is helping me prepare for college."

4. "My most memorable moment would definitely be winning nationals back in 2023 with my club team. It was special because my team had worked extremely hard all summer and I also made many core memories with my teammates!"

5. "Caprice Dydasco is someone I definitely look up to. She also happens to be my coach daughter. She is the extremely hard working, kind, and very supportive. She has been in the NWSL for over ten years and recently had her first baby! Seeing that a player from Hawaii going to the mainland and becoming super successful was awesome!"

6. "I hope to still be playing soccer and continuing to get better both as a player and a person."

7. "I would like to thanks my parents, coaches, and teammates for guiding me through this entire journey."

Kaha's Responses

1. What are three of your strengths as a soccer player?

My three strengths as a soccer player are being a leader, being coachable and never giving up when things get rough. Living in Hawaii makes it very difficult for me to get put out there and get recognized and never giving up is one of my biggest things that I go by because I've always been taught that no matter where you go, you always need to show out.

2. When did you and your parents decide that you would want to be a collegiate soccer player?

My parents and I decided that I wanted to be a collegiate soccer player when I was in middle school, specifically my seventh grade year. I decided this because I knew that soccer was a huge passion of mine and I just wanted to pursue it in the long-term.

3. What are some of the things you are currently doing to prepare for your college soccer journey?

Some of the things that I'm doing to prepare for my soccer journey in college is continuing to train whether it's at school on my own time or with other coaches, staff and players. As far as my mental strength goes, I'm preparing by always trying to keep a positive mindset whenever I'm doing any drills or if I'm at any practices.

4. What has been your most memorable soccer moment or moments as a soccer player thus far?

One of my biggest soccer moments was during my freshman year at states in the stadium when we beat our opposing team and got first place in the state D2 title. Another one of my biggest moments/accomplishments was winning the 2024 ECNL national championship.

5. Is there a club, collegiate, or professional soccer player who inspires you?

One professional soccer player who inspires me is Naomi Girma because she is quick off the ball, has great IQ, and is a positive player to her teammates overall.

6. Where do you see yourself or hope to be in your soccer journey in 5–6 years?

In the next five through six years of my soccer career, I would hope to see myself in college pursuing academics and soccer while trying to get recruited for a higher level league.

7. Who are the people you would like to thank in supporting you in your soccer journey?

Some people that I would like to thank in supporting my journey are my parents because they've always been there for me and they make huge sacrifices to help me through my process at getting to the higher level. I would also like to thank any of my teammates because they've always made practices, drills, and camps so much fun. We create the best memories that's unforgettable and create an environment where everyone feels comfortable.