Alyssa Jurado ’25 is a Division 1 athlete, has played for El Salvador’s U17 and U20 team, won gold and bronze in the Central American Football Union, and achieved much more in the world of soccer.
Jurado’s love for soccer and journey started off at 6 years old, when her parents signed her up for the sport.
“My story started when my dad put me in a soccer clinic in Brisbane, ultimately leading to my love for the sport,” said Jurado.
Since then, she has played for a multitude of clubs and has shown her dedication to the sport on Riordan’s varsity soccer team.
Jurado said, “I love club soccer, especially because I have been with mostly the same girls for years now and I consider them sisters to me. We are a top 15-ranked team in the nation and have a few national team players.”
Her recruitment journey started in high school, and she received offers from many schools and her top choices were USF, St. Mary’s Gonzanga, and UW.
“When I got my offer from USF, I remember I cried so hard that my dad had to speak for me. I had always felt that I had been under appreciated because I am not a forward who scored all the time,” said Jurado.
Jurado talked about the experience playing in El Salvador, and the things she learned.
“Before being called up to the national team, I had never been to El Salvador, and my parents had not been in 30 years. My Spanish improved, and I met lots of my family I had never come across previously. Overall, the experience was eye-opening not only to the international soccer world but also to my roots.”
Jurado faced initial fears about playing in El Salvador, but grew to love the experience overtime.
“I realized how amazing it felt to represent the country my parents immigrated from and to honor my grandfather who had once played for the same national team,” said Jurado.
Eventually, her goal is to play soccer professionally, especially on the international stage.
“My ultimate goal as a soccer player is to play professionally, ideally in the Premier League or in La Liga. My dream is to play for Chelsea or Barcelona, one that I have held since I was a young kid.”
