So let's start at the beginning, how did you get into soccer originally?

I started playing soccer when I was 5 years old for the local recreational league in Turlock. I fell in love with the game instantly and never stopped playing.

Play any other sports growing up?

I tried playing softball, volleyball and golf but either I didn't make the team or didn't enjoy it like I did with soccer.

Are you aware of Ainslie Wood in London or is this just a weird coincidence? Ever travel abroad?

I am actually aware of Ainslie Wood in London, but my parents got the name from one of the characters on the West Wing, she was played by Emily Proctor. I have traveled to Mexico and the Bahamas. I hope to one day visit Portugal where my family is from and also Italy because I think it is really pretty.

Are you currently playing college soccer?

I am not currently playing college soccer. Unfortunately, I graduated from high school in 2020 and recruiting shut down before I committed somewhere. However, I have been going to college part time and have not started by clock so I could still play in college. I believe everything happens for a reason, so I am thankful for where I am today.

A lot of people focus on scoring goals in youth soccer, how did you get into defending?

When I first started playing soccer I was not fast and I didn't have good ball control in traffic but I was aggressive and I could pass the ball. When I was younger my job was to mark the leading goal scorer on the opposing team and not let her score. I did it every game and I was very successful. As I got older, I got faster so I moved to the outside back position and then to holding mid.

What position do you primarily play and who would you compare your game to?

As of now I am very versatile, I can play almost every position, but I would have to say my favorite is attacking midfield, the 8 or 10. I would compare myself to Julie Ertz, she is very aggressive, versatile, she can score and defend.

This is Academica's first year playing in the WPSL. Any extra pressure on the team to perform well? As a player how do you deal with stress?

I do feel some pressure but I understand as a new team there will be things we will have to work out. As a player the way I deal with stress is by training. Training constantly either with my team or on my own makes me feel comfortable because I have done it so many times now it is like second nature. Makes me feel like there's nothing to worry about, I just need to play my game.

What's your pregame hype music?

My pregame hype music includes some Nickelback, Fall Out Boy, and Matchbox Twenty.

How did you pick your number?

Ever since I started playing competitive soccer my number has always been 16. I just always kept it and I honestly feel weird wearing a different number because it doesn't feel like my own.

Got any particular matches circled on the calendar?

We will be playing the California Storm U-21 team on Tuesday June 14th at home. I am excited to play Storm because they were my old team. Can't wait to see and play against some of my old teammates!

Since you don't score as often, what stat drives you? How do you measure success?

I measure my success by turnovers. The less turnovers I have the more possession my team has and the more turnovers I cause the other team to have, the more times my team has the ball.

Chips Ahoy: Crunchy or Softbaked?

I would say crunchy Chips Ahoy because I like crunchier food more than soft food.

The title graphic for this article is the work of Cory Mizer. A long-time contributor to Protagonist Soccer, Cory has created some of the best player profile cover shots we’ve ever seen. Here’s a link to a gallery of his work for our site.