Women’s Soccer Team Poised To Start New Era At Miami Dade College
For the first time since 1990, Miami Dade College athletics will feature soccer this fall.
Despite the nearly 35-year hiatus, the program has a rich history, capturing national titles in men’s soccer in 1979 and 1983.
But they have never fielded a women’s squad—until now.
“We’re going to focus on the process and how we’re going to achieve our goals; the outcome is to be determined,” said Ramiro Vengoechea, who will serve as the inaugural team’s head coach. “My expectation is beyond the results of the games; my expectation is for us to create a team. That’s the most important thing, to form a bond as a group and stay together.”
The Lady Sharks will kick off the season in Texas on Aug. 22 against Angelina College, followed by another big game on Aug. 24 against Tyler Junior College, whose women’s soccer team is a five-time national champion.
“We [are] preparing as warriors, mentally and physically, and [we] fight together, because we know together we are stronger,” said Sharks’ goalkeeper Nahomie Ambroise, who represented Haiti at the Women’s World Cup in 2023.
The team features players from all across the world, including Chile, Colombia, France, Hungary, Malaysia, Haiti and four players from Brazil.
“Everybody has something different to offer,” Vengoechea said. “We add to the pot, and we create a team with diversity, with, you know, different ways of playing the game that provide solutions.”
The young squad, which only features three sophomores, started practicing on Aug. 1.
Its strikers include freshmen Kyara Ormazabal, Tessa Abreu, Julia Gurgel, Rebeka Gaal, Eva Cova, Kanchenjeet Kaur Nanua, Susan Santos, Tiffany Murillo, Marion Parada, Kyra Tuesta, Luciana Mejia, Paola Minichino and Naya Megnin.
Manning the midfield will be freshmen Camila Martins Viera, Betzael Contreras and sophomore Paula Campos.
Defenders are Mariana Lima, Rachel Bellis, Mariana Sanchez Gomez, Elizabeth Mata and sophomore Fernanda Ramirez.
Goalkeepers will be Ashley Fonseca, Scarlett Veloza Albarracin and Nahomie Ambroise.
The new players said they are excited to start the program.
“I have a goal, which is to become a professional player, and I know that this is a unique opportunity,” said midfielder Camila Martins Vieira, who played for Brazilian soccer clubs Atlético Mineiro (U-17 and U-20 teams), Bahia (U-17 team) and São Paulo (U-16 team). “Even though I might have difficulties with the English language, I want to take that risk and try to improve 100 percent both my English and my soccer skills, so I can get where I want to be.”
Several of the interviews for this story were conducted in Portuguese.
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