Lucia Gonzalez '26 Recruiting Profile

           Soccer has been a part of my life for as far back as I can remember.  I have trained and competed at the highest level available to me. All of these experiences have continued to grow my love for the game and have made me very excited for the opportunity to play college soccer. 

Currently, I am a sophomore in high school and my favorite subjects are math and engineering. I have been playing varsity-level soccer since my eighth-grade year.  Next year I will be a junior and will be a captain for my high school team at St. Paul Academy.  In my freshman year in 2022, we placed second in the state championship, which was the furthest our school had gotten in over ten years. I started the entire season and l played multiple positions, wherever my team needed me. I was awarded All-Conference Honorable Mention and named Rookie of the Year for the season. In 2023, my sophomore year,  St. Paul Academy won the state tournament for the first time in school history. I am extremely proud of this moment because it was a goal of mine to help make history for our girl's program. Once again, I started all season and played multiple positions to help my team whenever and however they needed me. I am so proud that I was able to be a part of this huge accomplishment for my school. Next season, I plan to continue to lead my team with hard work, determination, and positivity. 

While I am on the field, one of the biggest ways I contribute is by being a smart player. I distribute the ball well and understand how to see opportunities not only for myself but for my teammates. I always play with big energy and try to hype up those around me to create momentum in games. In high school, I play mainly the 8 or 5 position.  For my club team, Salvo Navy 07, I mainly play as a 5 or 6. I enjoy beating players 1v1 and being able to create opportunities in the attacking third. I also enjoy making good slide tackles and winning air balls. I am especially strong at scoring goals during set pieces. I am an aggressive player in the air and enjoy having a good touch. 

In college, I plan to study sports medicine, engineering, or mathematics. I am looking forward to contributing to my future team as a hard-working, enthusiastic, and dedicated student-athlete. Soccer will continue to be a place where I push to be my best self and adapt to be the player that my team needs.