After opening the season 5-1-1, the Miami Dade College women’s soccer team has emerged as one of the top squads in the country, earning a spot in the national top 10 rankings for the first time in program history.
The strong start, which has the Lady Sharks ranked No. 8 in the country, comes after a difficult 2025 season that saw the team finish with a mediocre 6-5-2 record.
For head coach Ramiro Vengoechea, that improvement was fostered by creating a strong chemistry this offseason.
During the preseason, the coaches organized several team-building outings, including Topgolf, a barbecue, an Inter Miami CF game, an arcade trip and a boat tour around Miami.
“You can start to see those connections off the field start to pay dividends on the field now,” Vengoechea said.
With 18 new players, most of them with international experience, the newfound camaraderie has been helpful.
Freshman forward Oriana Quintero, who has represented the Colombian U-19 national team, has quickly become the Sharks’ top players. She has scored in four of the team’s first seven games, including a hat trick in Miami Dade’s first conference victory of the season, a 5-0 shutout against Polk State College.
“I think we have a really good team,” said Quintero, who leads the team with six goals. “We support each other. The coach supports us and I think that’s the success we have.”
That renewed sense of connection has also been noticed by sophomore midfielder and new team captain Dorina Fehertoi, who previously served as captain of Hungary’s Under-19 national team.
“I think we have a really good team this year, and our cohesion and everything is so good,” Fehertoi said. “We make friends so quickly, and I think it shows on the field.”
Fehertoi has embraced her leadership role; one of her priorities is helping younger players stay confident and focused.
“Don’t put too much pressure on yourself because that’s not going to be good,” Fehertoi said. “Just be happy, talk to each other, and then everything’s going to be good on the field.”
Her confidence has been matched by a slew of freshman contributors. Forward Stacy Thany Thomas from Limón, Costa Rica, has scored three goals and midfielder Manuella De Lima Olivan, who is from Brazil, has contributed two goals and two assists.
Their production has given Miami Dade added depth and provided the Lady Sharks with multiple scoring options. That offensive firepower helped them absorb an early season rough patch that saw the team lose to Trinity Valley Community College, 2-1 on Aug. 30, followed by a 0-0 tie versus Eastern Florida State College on Sept. 3.
The Lady Sharks responded with a dominant 5-0 victory versus Polk State College on Sept. 11.
For De Lima Olivan, the objective is straightforward.
“We are very focused and we are working very hard together,” she said. “Our main goal is to get to the nationals.”
For a program entering its third season, the goal is no longer simply to improve. With a deep roster with international experience and growing chemistry, the Lady Sharks believe they can compete with the best in the country and turn their strong start into a national tournament run.
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