Soccer

Tampa Bay Sun Foundation

Published

1 month ago

April 9, 2025

Tampa Bay added another chapter to its sports history over the first weekend in April, hosting the NCAA Women’s Final Four for a record fourth time. Several hours before that Friday’s semifinal games tipped off, a significant but less high-profile moment for Tampa Bay women’s sports unfolded on a grass field at an all-girls middle school in East Tampa.Tampa Bay Sun FoundationTampa Bay Sun player Domi Richardson with students from Ferrell Girls Preparatory AcademyTampa Bay Sun players Domi Richardson, Jordan Zade, and team mascot Solé visited the students at Ferrell Girls Preparatory Academy to lead soccer drills and a pep rally. Their visit was part of the newly launched Tampa Bay Sun Foundation’s partnership with Rise Up Soccer Club, a nonprofit that offers a free all-girls after-school soccer program at Title 1 schools around the Tampa Bay area.

Rise Up Soccer, founder Rachel Jolley, a St. Pete native who played college soccer at South Alabama, launched the nonprofit about two years ago. Jolley says the mission of the four- to six-week program is to connect with girls from communities that lack access to the sport she loves “and bring the game to them.”

“Soccer is the vehicle, but the goal is to provide the opportunity to build courage, discipline, respect, teamwork, and all those things that sport offers athletes,” she says. “Building future leaders.”

Taking a break from leading a group of Ferrell students through dribbling and

Tampa Bay Sun FoundationFerrell Girls Preparatory Academy students line up for a drill shooting drills, Jolley, who now serves as the Tampa Bay Sun Foundation Program Director, says Rise Up Soccer and the nonprofit arm of Tampa Bay’s first women’s professional sports team made natural partners.

“From the beginning, their vision as a club really stood out to me in the women’s game,” she says. “They walk the walk, they don’t just talk the talk. I think that is really unique and special.”

During the visit to Ferrell Girls Prep, cheers and excited screams spill from the school gym when the two Sun players are introduced. Beaming students pose for photos and dance with Solé. On the field, the students fire soccer balls, some on target, some errant, at a row of pop-up goals. They laugh during a footwork drill where they try to evade Zade while she chases them down to pull the flags at their hips.

Standing in the middle of the action, Ferrell Assistant Principal Eric Turner, an avid soccer fan and the school’s de facto soccer coach, says from the moment in 2023 when the new USL Super League announced Tampa as a charter franchise, he felt the all-girls magnet school and the women’s professional soccer team was “a partnership that needs to happen.”

“It was not only my love of soccer, but just the idea that these young ladies need those role models, those professional athletes to look up to and see there is a path there they can have moving forward,” he says. “It’s important because women in sports, even though they have come a long way in the last couple of years, are underrepresented”

Turner says he would like to see the school and the Sun Foundation build a long-term relationship that touches on areas like sports leadership, career paths in sports outside of being an athlete, and mentorships.

Before stepping inside the school gym to speak to the students, Tampa Bay Sun General Manager Christina Unkel says the franchise has gone through a deliberative process building the business, finding its first home stadium, bringing in players, and developing its mascot, brand, and identity.

“Developing that brand and identity with our platform in professional sports, it’s important to give back to the community,” she says. “Instead of dumping hundreds of thousands of dollars in traditional sports marketing, I’d rather put it in the foundation, into the community, into coming to schools and getting kids excited about sport, fitness, health, and teamwork. I’d rather help enrich the future generation of leaders to know they can be in sports, play sports. It’s see her, be her. Instead of inspiration, it’s aspiration.“

She says that weekend in downtown Tampa shows the potential women’s sports have in the Bay Area, with Friday’s NCAA semifinal games and Sunday’s championship game at Amalie Arena sandwiched around the Sun’s Saturday match at nearby Riverfront Stadium.

“This is the vision I’ve always had of Tampa,” Unkel says. “That women’s sports can be here. We say we’re the first but we’re not the last. This is what Tampa can look like with multiple women’s sports.”

For more information, go to Tampa Bay Sun Foundation

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College Sports

Forward who was playing in US college last year puts Sevilla on verge of escaping demotion

MADRID — Álvaro García Pascual, who last year was playing college soccer in the United States, gave Sevilla a 1-0 home win over Las Palmas and moved the traditional Spanish club on the verge of escaping relegation in the Spanish league on Tuesday. García Pascual scored the winning goal with a header in the 52nd […]

Published

7 hours ago

May 14, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Forward who was playing in US college last year puts Sevilla on verge of escaping demotion

García Pascual scored the winning goal with a header in the 52nd minute to move Sevilla seven points clear of the relegation zone with two games remaining. Some teams can cut that gap as the mid-week round continues on Wednesday and Thursday.

The 22-year-old García Pascual was playing at Marshall University until last year, and before that he was at Coastal Carolina University. The forward joined Sevilla’s B team in 2024, and made his first-team debut as a substitute in a game against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in December.

Tuesday’s victory ended an eight-game winless streak for Sevilla, which a few days ago faced a protest by a large group of angry fans who forced their way onto the premises of the club’s training grounds following another loss.

Sevilla fired coach Francisco García Pimienta in April, and former coach Joaquín Caparrós replaced him in a caretaker role. The club has been hit by financial plight and poor results ever since winning its seventh and last Europa League title in 2023.

It was the fourth-straight defeat for Las Palmas, which stayed in second-to-last-place, three points from salvation.

Other results

In other results, 13th-place Girona won 1-0 at already relegated Valladolid, which has lost 10 games in a row. Cristhian Stuani scored Girona’s winner in the 80th.

Seventh-place Celta Vigo strengthened its hold in the European qualification spots by winning 1-0 at 12th-place Real Sociedad, which is winless in six consecutive matches. Celta has won three of its last four matches.

Real Madrid needs to beat Mallorca at home on Wednesday to keep Barcelona from winning the league title in advance. Even if Madrid wins, the Catalan club can lift the trophy with a victory at Espanyol on Thursday.

College Sports

Defensive Leader of FCC to Scholar Athlete of the Year

Published

8 hours ago

May 14, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Defensive Leader of FCC to Scholar Athlete of the Year

Valerie Rocha Cervantes isn’t just a soccer player, she’s a dedicated student, a leader on and off the field and a role model for the next generation of athletes. As a center back for the Fresno City College women’s soccer team, she has learned to balance the intensity of athletics with the discipline required for her studies as a psychology major. Whether she’s defending goals or studying human behavior, Cervantes’s journey is a testament to her power of perseverance, self-awareness, and passion.

A Soccer Legacy: From Madera to Fresno

Cervantes’s love for soccer runs deep in her family and community. Born in Watsonville,California and raised in Madera,California, she grew up in a soccer family.

“Soccer is in my blood,” Cervantes said. “My aunts, uncles, and even my parents all played. It’s more than just a sport for me; it’s a family tradition.”

Her father, who played soccer at a competitive level, served as her influence.

“We would watch soccer games together, scream at the TV, and talk about tactics,” Cervantes said. “He coached me throughout my career and taught me everything I know. His passion for the game is contagious.”

Starting at the age of six, Cervantes was introduced to soccer through local youth leagues. Initially, she played as a goalkeeper. However, she soon discovered her true calling on the field was in defense.

“I didn’t like being a goalie,” she laughed. “I wanted to be more involved in the action, so I switched to center back, and that’s where I found my rhythm.”

Valerie Rocha Cervantes defends the goal during
practice on May 6, 2025. (Photo by: Ryan Anderson)

On the Field: A Leader on Defense

As a center back for FCC, Cervantes plays a vital role in her team’s defense. She thrives in high-pressure situations, using her speed, agility and communication skills to keep opponents from scoring.

“Being a center back is a lot of responsibility,” Cervantes said. “I have to be aware of every part of the field, and I need to anticipate the opponent’s next move. I love the challenge.”

Head women’s soccer coach Oliver Germond praised Cervantes for her technical skills and leadership qualities.

“Valerie has an incredible soccer IQ,” Germond said. “She reads the game well and has the ability to organize the defense. Her ability to remain calm under pressure is what sets her apart.”

Cervantes is also known for her physicality and strong tackling. “I enjoy challenging the other players and protecting my team,” Cervantes said. “There’s a certain rush when you make a key tackle or prevent a goal.”

Overcoming Setbacks: Injuries and Mental Resilience

Cervantes’s journey hasn’t been without challenges. One of the most difficult obstacles she faced was an ankle injury in high school that forced her to sit out for a period of time.

“I pushed through, but it only made the injury worse. It taught me an important lesson, listening to your body is just as important as pushing yourself,” Cervantes said.

“When things aren’t going well, I remind myself that it’s okay to mess up,” Cervantes said. “I focus on learning from my mistakes and getting better. I try not to dwell on bad moments, but use them as stepping stones to improve.”

Germond credits Cervantes’s mental resilience as one of her defining qualities.

“She’s incredibly tough mentally,” Germond said. “When she’s faced with adversity, whether it’s an injury or a tough game, she doesn’t let it get the best of her. She learns from it and keeps moving forward.”

A Rising Star at Fresno City College

Cervantes’s beginning at FCC marked her transformation into a leader on the soccer field. As a center back, Cervantes’s job is to maintain the integrity of the defense, prevent goals, and be the backbone of the Ram’s defensive strategy. Cervantes’s ability to read the game, communicate with her teammates, and stay calm under pressure has made her an important part of the team.

On the field, Cervantes’s contributions go far beyond just her defensive skills. She’s known for her leadership and motivating her teammates to give their best.

“She leads by example, whether it’s through her work ethic, her commitment to improvement, or her attitude on the field. She has an incredible soccer IQ, and that’s why she’s such a valuable player,” Germond said.

Germond said her mental toughness was something that showed in every game.

“She never backs down from a challenge,” Germond said. “Even when the team faces adversity, Valerie remains focused and composed. That resilience is something that the rest of the team really looks up to.”

Fresno Pacific University: A New Chapter for Valerie

With her time at FCC nearing its end, Cervantes is already looking forward to the next chapter of her soccer career. She plans to continue her athletic journey at Fresno Pacific University, a move that will offer her new challenges and opportunities to elevate her game to a higher level.

“I’m excited about the challenge ahead,” Cervantes said. “It’s going to be tough, but I’m ready for it. I know I have the support of my teammates and my coach, and that’s what keeps me motivated.”

At FPU, Cervantes will face a new level of competition, but she’s more than ready for the challenge. Her mindset is focused on growth, both as an athlete and as a person.

“I know there’s always room for improvement,” Cervantes said. “I want to continue developing my skills, but also help elevate the team. It’s not just about individual success—it’s about the team succeeding together.”

Germond has watched Cervantes grow throughout her time at FCC and is confident in her ability to succeed at FPU.

“Valerie has the potential to thrive at the next level,” Germond said. “She has the drive, the skills, and the leadership qualities that will help her succeed in collegiate soccer. I’m excited to see what she will achieve at Fresno Pacific.”

Advice for Young Athletes: Perseverance and Passion

As a role model for young athletes, Cervantes has a simple piece of advice.

“Never give up. There will always be obstacles, but it’s how you respond to them that matters. Stay focused on your goals, work hard every day, and most importantly, enjoy the journey,” Cervantes said.

Germond said the most important thing is to stay consistent. “Success doesn’t come overnight—it comes from hard work, dedication, and the ability to stay committed, even when things get tough. Valerie is a prime example of that, and she’s an inspiration to everyone on our team,” Germond said.

The Road Ahead: A Bright Future

Cervantes’s journey is one of resilience, dedication, and passion for soccer. As she looks toward the future, she remains committed to continuing her development as an athlete and a person. With the support of her teammates, coaches, and family, there’s no limit to what she can achieve.

Cervantes balanced between academics and athletics and was awarded the Scholar Athlete of the Year at Fresno City College. This award is given to student-athletes who excel both on the field and in the classroom, showcasing dedication to their studies and their sport.

“I felt really honored to be picked for that award,” Cervantes said. “Sometimes I don’t give myself enough credit, but receiving recognition for all the hard work I’ve put in felt incredibly rewarding. It was nice to see that my efforts were recognized by others, and it reminded me of how much potential I have to offer.”

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College Sports

Ex

Associated Press May 13, 2025, 07:02 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Álvaro García Pascual, who last year was playing college soccer in the United States, gave Sevilla a 1-0 home win over Las Palmas and moved the traditional Spanish club on the verge of escaping relegation in LaLiga on Tuesday. García Pascual scored the winning […]

Published

8 hours ago

May 14, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Associated Press

May 13, 2025, 07:02 PM ET

Álvaro García Pascual, who last year was playing college soccer in the United States, gave Sevilla a 1-0 home win over Las Palmas and moved the traditional Spanish club on the verge of escaping relegation in LaLiga on Tuesday.

Editor’s Picks

Álvaro García Pascual became an unexpected hero for Sevilla with his goal against Las Palmas. Aitor Alcalde/Getty ImagesTuesday’s victory ended an eight-game winless streak for Sevilla, which a few days ago faced a protest by a large group of angry fans who forced their way onto the premises of the club’s training grounds following another loss.

It was the fourth-straight defeat for Las Palmas, which stayed in second-to-last-place, three points from salvation.

College Sports

SoCal high school soccer player commits to Stanford with help from college recruitment nonprofit

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) — From a very young age Aniyah Williams has known soccer was her future. “From the first moment my grandfather put the ball on my foot, I’ve just loved the sport and I haven’t looked back since,” Aniyah said. The 17-year-old has dreams of playing in college and eventually professionally, but the […]

Published

9 hours ago

May 14, 2025

Your Sports Nation

SoCal high school soccer player commits to Stanford with help from college recruitment nonprofit

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) — From a very young age Aniyah Williams has known soccer was her future.

“From the first moment my grandfather put the ball on my foot, I’ve just loved the sport and I haven’t looked back since,” Aniyah said.

The 17-year-old has dreams of playing in college and eventually professionally, but the same opportunities aren’t available to all athletes.

The soccer system can be expensive and players may not have the financial means to pay club dues, buy equipment or travel to showcases. That’s where nonprofit Access U comes in.

“I know who I am and I know that I have the capability to make it big in this sport and that’s where I want to go. I just don’t always have the exposure and the resources to get noticed, so Access U really helped me get exposed and noticed,” she said.

Now, that little girl doing toe touches has become a young woman with a 4.4 GPA committed to playing soccer for Stanford University.

In partnership with college recruitment program Gritness, Access U identifies elite young women soccer players and guides them through the college recruitment process. For Aniyah, this included funding her trip to the Stanford ID camp.

“Aniyah deserves to be at Stanford and she deserves to play. She’s good enough on the field and she’s certainly good enough in the classroom,” said Brad Rothenberg, founder of Access U. “She just, like most of our other 65 girls in the program, they need the expertise of Lindsey, of our college counselors, of our academic tutors to help them get over the hump.”

“Access U stepped in for her at the perfect time where, I think she mentioned, she wasn’t exposed,” said Patty Williams, Aniyah’s mom. “Nobody knew who Aniyah was.”

“I wish more knew about it,” said Barry Williams, Aniyah’s dad. “There were just tons of scouts. And so when you talk about exposure, that’s the exposure that’s super important for these kids. You can’t pay for that unless you’re in a certain circle.”

While Aniyha says she was never discouraged during her recruiting process, she also says Access U has been invaluable. Along with helping her get more exposure to more college recruiters, they’re also now helping her study for the SATs.

“And now you’re seeing so many different kinds of players. Now on our full U.S. National Team, we have what’s called the Triple Espresso,” said Lindsey Huie, founder of Gritness and former U.S. Women’s National Team player. “I mean how awesome is that? For a young kid of color who probably doesn’t have very many resources to go, ‘I can be that’.”

“It may not seem like a big deal because of skin color, but really when I’m a little girl looking up at the TV, and I see somebody who looks like me, it makes me believe in myself more,” said Aniyah . “It makes me feel like I can make it.”

College Sports

Mid

By: Brett Kennedy (FAUCETT, MO) – Mid-Buchanan High School senior Molly Stanton signed her letter of intent to play college soccer at Lincoln Trail College in Robinson, Illinois. Stanton is a multi-sport athlete for the Dragons, she was a multi-time state finalist in wrestling as well. But she decided to follow her true passion of soccer […]

Published

9 hours ago

May 14, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Mid-Buchanan High School's Molly Stanton signs with Lincoln Trail College soccer — By: Brett Kennedy

(FAUCETT, MO) – Mid-Buchanan High School senior Molly Stanton signed her letter of intent to play college soccer at Lincoln Trail College in Robinson, Illinois.

Stanton is a multi-sport athlete for the Dragons, she was a multi-time state finalist in wrestling as well. But she decided to follow her true passion of soccer at the next level.

The Lady Dragons soccer team finished 4th at state in Stanton’s freshman year and Mid-Buchanan has played in the district title game every season so far with her on the team. Stanton will continue to play on the defensive side of the ball for the Lincoln Trail College Statesman.

“Whenever I went ahead and made my visit out there, I really liked the campus. It’s a super nice small town, so it felt a lot like home,” said Stanton. “So really when I went out there, it just felt like home and I knew that’s where I needed to be. I went back and forth about it a lot, but my heart just kind of told me that I needed to be in soccer and I got an opportunity to play in soccer. So I just continued with that.”

Stanton and Mid-Buchanan soccer currently sit with a 10-12 record on the season. They’ll host East Kansas City on Thursday, May 15th at 5 pm to conclude the regular season before the Class 1 District 4 Tournament where Mid-Buchanan will face Lutheran (KC) on Monday, May 19th at 7 pm in Faucett.

College Sports

Pleasanton Preps

Pleasanton RAGE Girls Soccer Club players celebrate their college signings. (Photo by Martha Brown) The Pleasanton RAGE Girls Soccer Club held its annual Honors Night Event on April 24 at the Pleasanton Marriott, celebrating the class of 2025 as well as the sophomore, junior, and senior scholar-athlete award recipients. Also recognized were the recipients of […]

Published

10 hours ago

May 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Pleasanton RAGE Girls Soccer Club players celebrate their college signings. (Photo by Martha Brown)

The Pleasanton RAGE Girls Soccer Club held its annual Honors Night Event on April 24 at the Pleasanton Marriott, celebrating the class of 2025 as well as the sophomore, junior, and senior scholar-athlete award recipients.

Also recognized were the recipients of the Pleasanton RAGE Scholarship Award for Excellence in Academics and Community Service: Faith Cunha Brasil (Foothill) and Vivialann Garcia (Gregori High).

The following are the high school seniors who have committed to playing college soccer:

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Kiana Ayllon (Westmont College), Amaya Cabrales-Estrada (San Jose State University), Camryn Caliz (Las Positas College), Kelsey Castillo (Chapman University), Elizabeth Cruden (Brandeis University), Isabel Garcia (Las Positas University), Hillary Gonzalez (Wellesley College), Lia Ikuta (Las Positas College), Tess Manning (Colorado Mesa University), Maylen Montoya (University of Washington), Kate Pereur (College of Idaho) and Hailey Schlosser (Trinity University, Texas).

Amador boys’ volleyball

The Amador Valley High boys’ volleyball kept their postseason run alive with a pair of wins the first week of the North Coast Section Division I playoffs.

The Dons beat Deer Valley 3-0, then Dublin 3-1 to advance to the NCS semifinals.

In the win over Deer Valley, the Dons got outstanding offense from Max Riter and opposite hitter Nick Nyak on the way to the 25-20, 25-21, 25-16 win.

Riter had 15 kills, Nyak had seven kills and two aces. Also chipping in on the offense was Ryan Bury, with solid passing and nine kills.

In the 25-20, 21-25, 25-17, 25-13 win over Dublin, once again Riter and Nyak were featured on offense, with 17 kills and an ace apiece. Setter Everett Wogsland contributed directly to the offense with three kills of his own.

Amador swimming

The Dons turned in some great performances in the NCS Swimming and Diving Championships held May 8-10 at the Concord Community Pool.

Highlights on the girls’ side included Rylee Hutchinson winning the 200 freestyle and finishing third in the 500 free, both in CIF State Meet automatic qualifying times.

Lilyana Caples got second in the 500 free and got ninth (won the consolation finals) in the 200 free.

Elayna Ling swam to fifth in the 100 butterfly and seventh in the 100 breaststroke.

Francesca Lin got seventh in the 200 individual medley and fifth in the 500 free. Namya Sarup was ninth in the 100 breast.

Hutchinson, Caples, Ling and Lin teamed up to get sixth in the 200 medley relay and fifth in the 400 free relay. They made the CIFA standard in the 400 free relay.

For the boys, Cade Vieler was third in the 100 backstroke with a CIFA time and sixth in the 200 free. Kealan Tupper was fifth in the 200 IM and eighth in the 500 free, both in CIFA times.

Oryan Liu got 10th in the 200 IM and tied for 10th in the 100 fly. Toby Huang finished 15th in the 100 fly, and Ryan Wong was 16th in the 200 free.

Vieler, Liu, Tupper and Wong teamed up to earn fifth in the 400 free relay in a CIFA time. Vieler, Wong, Liu and Huang got 10th in the 200 medley relay in a CIFA time, with the top 10 teams all achieving the CIFA time standard.

The 200 free relay team of Simon Valentine, Ibrahim Kiziloglu, Will Campbell and Toby Huang, was seeded 18th, moved up to 15th after their preliminary swim and got 13th in the consolation finals.

Editor’s note: Dennis Miller is a contributing sports writer for Embarcadero Media Foundation’s East Bay Division. To contact him about his Pleasanton Preps column, email acesmag@aol.com.