Liliana Zermeno '17 Recruiting Profile

From the first time I played soccer at U8, my ultimate thrill is being on the field. I love the excitement of the competition. I love being part of a team that works hard. I love the feeling of accomplishment after giving everything I have in the game. After one season in AYSO, I played in a co-ed league until U13. In the co-ed league, I often played two or three games in a day and would guest for the older teams if they were short players. I played on a U15 girl’s team in the same league when I was 12. I remember begging my parents to take me to the field one Saturday even though it was my sister’s birthday and they had already told the coach we couldn’t make it to the game that day. At U13, my coach and other parents encouraged me to find a club team because of my athleticism and success on the field.

Currently, I play outside back for Strikers FC in Irvine at the Tier 1 level. My club experience has shown me the importance of training. Competing with high-level teams takes dedication and hard work. I know that no matter how good I am, there is always room for improvement. My club experience also allowed me to make the Varsity team my freshman year at Segerstrom Fundamental High School where I play a forward. My team won conference this year and made it to CIF semi-finals where we lost 1-0.

As a student I study hard. I take honors classes and try to maintain A’s and B’s. My favorite subject is Math. I am working this summer to improve my writing skills for English. In college I want to study nursing or another healthcare career. I am volunteering in the activities department at a healthcare center for the elderly to get a taste of different healthcare careers.

I want to play college soccer for many reasons. I want to compete at the college level, but I also want all of the other things that come with playing soccer for my school. I feel proud to wear my soccer jersey representing my high school. My coaches encourage me to stay healthy by eating right and staying hydrated. My teammates and I support each other through difficult times. I am encouraged by both to work hard in my classes and keep my grades up. I have learned to cooperate with other people and how to express frustration appropriately. Most of all, I have learned that I can work harder than I ever thought I could.

Thank you for taking the time to get to know me. I hope I can find a college that is a good fit academically and athletically.

Liliana Zermeno