MIAMI (Aug. 13, 2019) – With the new season just around the corner, we take a look at some incoming Panthers that will be donning the Blue & Gold for the first time in 2019.
 
The FIU women's soccer team will feature 14 newcomers in 2019, with nine being true freshmen and five transfers.
 
The young group of Panthers include: Lucia Romero, Sydney Amparo, Carmen Marin, Ellen Halseth, Alex King, Charity O'Neal, Andrea Rivas, Trinity O'Neal and Sarah Ward. The transfer group will feature: Gabriela Rodrigues, Anyeli Solarte, Laura Chavez,Yolanda Albalat Collado and Angie Ponce Baque.
 
FIU kicks off the 2019 season on Thursday, Aug. 22 at Florida Gulf Coast, before closing out the weekend at Jacksonville State on Sunday, Aug. 25. The Panthers will open the home slate on Friday, Aug. 30 at 2 p.m. against Jacksonville.

As a reminder, season tickets for the 2019 FIU women's soccer season are now on sale. For more information, or to order your tickets by phone, please call (305) FIU-GAME.

Click Here To Purchase Season Tickets

SOCIAL MEDIA
Get all the latest information on the team by following @FIU_WSoccer Instagram and @FIUWSoccer on Facebook and Twitter. General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.
 
Player Bios
 
00 - Lucia Romero
5-8, Goalkeeper, Freshman
Vero Beach, Fla. / Vero Beach HS
 
PREP: A member of the Vero Beach High School girls' varsity soccer team… Is a three time district champion, two time regional 5A champion and earned three state final four appearances.

ACADEMICS/ COMMUNITY SERVICE: Majoring in international relations at FIU… Was a member of the National Honor Society at Vero Beach HS.

PERSONAL: Born in Buenos Aires Argentina… Raised in Vero Beach, Florida where she attended Vero Beach High School and graduated in 2019… Daughter of Leo Romero and Silvina Vasquez… Has a younger sister, Emily… Favorite professional soccer player is Leo Messi because they're both from Argentina.
 
3 - Gabriela Rodrigues
5-11, Forward, Junior
Sao Paulo, Brazil / Santa Olimpia HS / Coffeyville CC
 
2018 (Sophomore at Coffeyville CC): Played and started in 16 games during her sophomore season… Accumulated eight goals and six assists on the year… Her eight goals ranked second on the team as well as her six assists… Named to the KJCCC 2018 All-Conference Eastern Division second team.

2017 (Freshman at Coffeyville CC): Played in 20 games while starting in 17… Scored nine goals and tallied four assists during her freshman campaign… Ranked second in goals on the team.

ACADEMICS/COMMUNITY SERVICE: Majoring in mechanical engineering at FIU.

PERSONAL: Born and raised in Sao Paulo, Brazil… Attended Sao Bernardo do Campo and graduated in 2014… Daughter of Sebastiao da Lapa Rodrigues and Rosa Maria Santos Rodrigues… Has a sister named Daniela… Hopes to one day be an aerospace engineer or a professional soccer player… Favorite childhood memory is playing soccer in the street with her friends…Favorite place in Miami is Miami Beach.

4- Sydney Amparo
5-5, Forward, Freshman
Downingtown, Pa. / Downingtown STEM Academy 

PREP: Back-to-back Chetmont Champions with her HS team… Has gone to playoffs for ECNL and DA three times… Won a state championship with her travel team.

ACADEMICS/COMMUNITY SERVICE: Majoring in recreational sports therapy at FIU… A member of National Honor Society in high school… Ran a fundraiser named Unite for Her for breast cancer... Volunteered at holiday events at a retirement home.

PERSONAL: Born and raised in Downingtown, Pennsylvania… Attended Downingtown STEM Academy and graduated in 2019… Daughter of Koren Patterson and Gene Amparo… Has an older sibling, Jordan… Favorite professional team is the USA Women's Soccer National Team… Favorite place in Miami is the beach.
 
5- Anyeli Solarte
5-3, Midfielder, Junior
Cali, Colombia / Liceo Juan XIII / Iowa Western CC

2018 (Sophomore at Iowa Western CC): Played in 20 games while staring in five as a sophomore… Scored seven goals and owned one assist on the year… Earned the 2018 regional championship and district championship, while his team finished third place in the 2018 national championship. 

2017 (Freshman at Iowa Western CC): Played and started in 19 games during her freshman campaign… Scored five goals and tallied four assists on the season… Her five goals ranked third on the squad as well as her four assists.

PREP: Earned team championships with Escuela Carlos Sarmiento Lora in consecutive years through 2012 to 2016 in multiple age categories… Part of Seleccion Valle in 2014 and 2015… Was a member of the U17 Colombian National team in 2016.

ACADEMICS/COMMUNITY SERVICE: Majoring in international business at FIU.

PERSONAL: Born in Cali, Colombia and attended Liceo Juan XIII where she graduated in 2016… Daughter of Uldarico Solarte and Dora Castillo… Has an older sister, Dayany… Favorite professional soccer player is Toni Kroos because of his passing ability as well as his calm and collected style… Hopes to work as a soccer coordinator in 10 years.

11- Laura Chavez
5-8, Midfielder, Junior
Bogota, Colombia / Colombo Gales School / Iowa Western CC

2018 (Sophomore at Iowa Western CC): Played in 19 games while receiving the starting nod 18 times… Scored 13 goals while accumulating 30 assists during her sophomore campaign… Led the Reivers in assists while ranking second on the team in goals… Her 30 assists ranked second in the NJCAA… Named first team NSCAA All-American, first team USCAA All-American and Player of the Year in the ICCAC NJCAA Region XI.

2017 (Freshman at Iowa Western CC): Played and started in 18 games… Scored 11 goals and tallied 16 assists as a freshman… Led the team in goals and assists on the year… Named second team USCAA All-American,  MVP of the 2017 ICCAC- Region XI Tournament and All-Region ICCAC Region XL… Awarded the Golden Boot Award in the NCAA national tournament.

PREP: Earned team championships with Bogota F.C. youth teams in 2014 and 2016… Was a member of the U17 Colombian National team in 2016.

ACADEMICS/ COMMUNITY SERVICE: Majoring in psychology at FIU… 2017 Academic All-American while at Iowa Western.

PERSONAL: Born in Bogota, Colombia… Attended and graduated from Colombo Gales School in 2017… Daughter of Ricardo Chavez and Leonor Serrato… Has two brothers, Ricardo and Camilo… Her favorite food is sushi… Favorite place to go in Miami is Wynwood.

13- Yolanda Albalat Collado
5-6, Midfielder, Junior
Madrid, Spain / IES Ignacio Aldecoa / Monroe College

2018 (Sophomore at Monroe College): Played and started in 17 games during her sophomore campaign…Scored five goals while accumulating 11 assists on the year… Led the Mustangs in assists… Named 2018 NJCAA Division I most valuable offense and 2018 NJCAA Division I All-American team… Earned 2018 NJCAA regional championship, 3028 NJCAA district championship and 2018 NJCAA national championship.

2017 (Freshman at Monroe College): Played in 11 games while starting in eight… Scored eights goals and tallied four assists during her freshman year… Led the team in goals and ranked second in assists… Scored three game winning goals… Named USC All-Region.

PREP: Played for Atletico de Madrid Femeninas B from 2013 -2017 seasons and Atletico de Madrid Femeninas C from 2012-13… Played for the U19 Spain national team in 2016.

ACADEMICS/ COMMUNITY SERVICE: Majoring in physics at FIU… Awarded President's Honors List for the School of Business while at Monroe College… Named All-Region Academics 2018-19.

PERSONAL: Born and raised in Madrid, Spain… Graduated from ISE Ignacio Aldecoa high school in 2016... Daughter of Montserrat Collado and Andres Albalat… Has a brother, David… Enjoys riding horses as well as spending time with friends and family…Hopes to play soccer professionally in the U.S. or Europe...Favorite place in Miami is the beach.

16- Carmen Marin
5-3, Midfielder, Freshman
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada / Montverde Academy

PREP: Won the 2019 FHSSA 4A state championship, 2019 District Champions… Montverde Academy girls varsity soccer team went undefeated during her senior year… Montverde was ranked nationally in the top 10.

ACADEMICS/ COMMUNITY SERVICE: Majoring in sports management at FIU.

PERSONAL: Born in Ottawa Ontario, Canada… Hails from Montverde, Florida where she attended and graduated from Montverde Academy in 2019… Daughter of Julio Marin and Amy Rapoport… Has two siblings, Sam and Fernanda… Hopes to one day work for CONCACAF or FIFA… Enjoys writing and photography.
 
23- Ellen Halseth
5-4, Forward, Freshman
Bærum, Norway /  Nadderud Videregående Skole

PREP: Played soccer at Nadderud Videregående Skole in Bærum, Norway.

ACADEMICS/COMMUNITY SERVICE: Majoring in economics at FIU.

PERSONAL: Born in Oslo, Norway… Hails from Bærum, Norway where she attended Nadderud Videregående Skole and graduated in 2019… Daughter of Arve Halseth and Liv Kristensen… Has one older sister, Johanne… Her favorite food in Norwegian chocolate.

25- Alex King
5-7, Defender, Freshman
Jacksonville Beach, Fla. / Stanton College Prep

PREP: Was part of the 2017 FHSAA Class 3A state runner up squad…Named Defensive Player of the Year in back-to-back years… ECNL 2018 Southeast All Conference… Awarded the 2019 Coaches Award.

ACADEMICS/COMMUNITY SERVICE: Majoring in economics and Spanish at FIU… Volunteered with Tops Soccer, the Salvation Army and the Makenzie Foundation.

PERSONAL: Born in Rostov-na-Donu, Russia… Raised in Jacksonville Beach, Florida… Attended Stanton College Preparatory in Jacksonville, Florida where she graduated in 2019… Daughter of Jeff and Terri King… Father, Jeff King, played football at Oklahoma State… Her goals while at FIU include becoming a better player and to study abroad.

26- Charity O'Neal
5-7, Forward, Freshman
Pembroke Pines, Fla. / Pembroke Pines Charter HS

PREP: Member of Weston football club…Named MVP her junior year.

ACADEMICS/COMMUNITY SERVICE: Majoring in psychology at FIU.

PERSONAL: Born in Coral Springs, Florida… Raised in Pembroke Pines, Florida where she attended Pembroke Pines Charter School… Graduated in 2019… Daughter of Robert and Lucritta O'Neal… Has a twin sister, Trinity, who plays on the FIU women's soccer team… Father, Robert O'Neal, played football at Clemson and later went on to play for the Miami Dolphins… Hopes to be a physician assistant… Favorite place to eat in Miami is P.F. Changs

29- Andrea Rivas
5-3, Defender, Freshman
Lakeworth, Fla. / Oxbridge Academy

PREP: Won the 2016-17 state championship with the Oxbridge Academy Thunderwolves in West Palm Beach, Florida.

ACADEMICS/ COMMUNITY SERVICE: Majoring in business analytics at FIU... Volunteered at St. Thomas More Catholic Church.

PERSONAL: Born in Queens, New York… Hails from Lake Worth, Florida… Attended Oxbridge Academy in West Palm Beach, Florida and graduated in 2019… Daughter of Armando Rivas and Luz Pena…. Has three older siblings, Armando, Adrian and Brianna… Hopes to be a business owner in the future… Favorite place to go to in Miami is Top Golf.

36- Trinity O'Neal
5-6, Defender, Freshman
Pembroke Pines, Fla. / Pembroke Pines Charter HS

PREP: Member of Weston football club… Named Defensive MVP.

ACADEMICS/COMMUNITY SERVICE: Majoring in physical education at FIU.

PERSONAL: Born in Coral Springs, Florida… Raised in Pembroke Pines, Florida where she attended Pembroke Pines Charter School… Graduated in 2019… Daughter of Robert and Lucritta O'Neal… Has a twin sister, Charity who plays on the FIU women's soccer team… Father, Robert O'Neal played football at Clemson and later went on to play for the Miami Dolphins… Hopes to be a physical therapist… Favorite place in Miami is South Beach.

99- Sarah Ward
5-5, Goalkeeper, Freshman
Lithia, Fla. / Newsome HS

PREP: Three time district champion in consecutive years with her high school team… Two time regional champion in back-to-back years while at Newsome High School.

ACADEMICS/ COMMUNITY SERVICE: Majoring in psychology and criminal justice at FIU… Volunteered with a local organization named Girls with Confidence, running camps and seminars.

PERSONAL: Born in Sarasota, Florida… Hails from Lithia, Florida where she graduated from Newsome High School in 2019… Daughter of Kenneth and Elaine Ward… Has three siblings, Katie, Grace and Zach… Enjoys ceramics and drawing… Hopes to continue studying and pursue a master's degree.