St. Edwards soccer star set to bounce back
AUSTIN, Texas (BVM) 鈥� Emma Viquez was just three years old when she first started playing soccer. Coming from Costa Rican families obsessed with the nation鈥檚 favorite sport helped. So, too, did Viquez鈥檚 willingness to begin honing her craft at such a tender age. Almost two decades on, she has represented the Costa Rica national team at Under-17 and Under-20 level and, one day, hopes to make another step up to play for the senior side.
Now a college sophomore at St. Edwards鈥檚 University, Viquez looks back at that early period of her life and recalls what exactly sparked her passion for soccer.
鈥淚 loved how the beautiful game brought families and cultures together,鈥� Viquez said.
When she was 10, Emma stayed with her grandparents in Costa Rica for the summer. While there, she would play soccer with boys in the local neighborhood each day. That same summer, Viquez played with a boy’s academy team from Costa Rica鈥檚 professional first division.听
鈥淚n Costa Rica, female soccer players were not promoted as strongly as the men, nor did they have any clubs my age that I could train with,鈥� Viquez said.
鈥淚 was used to training with boys and was used to hearing all the teasing and annoyance that came from parents or players who were upset,” Viquez said. However, I was confident in my skill and made sure to prove myself on the field to remove all those doubts.鈥�
But once she had moved back to the United States, that was when Viquez鈥檚 life intertwined with the love of her country and hobby would be taken to the next level.听
She acquired her dual citizenship and ID, otherwise known as 鈥渃edula,鈥� Viquez was ready to represent Costa Rica and take the first step onto the professional ladder. Along with getting her dual citizenship, Viquez鈥檚 father spent time editing clips of his daughter playing before exporting the video to YouTube and sending it to the director of the Costa Rica national team, where she received a positive response. Eventually joining the Under-17 squad.
Then, in just her third match and her first start for her country, Viquez played against the United States in the 2016 Confederation of North, Central American, and Caribbean Association Football women鈥檚 Under-17 Championship in Grenada. It was extra special for Viquez, who had spent significant periods of her life in the two locations.
鈥淚 think my greatest career highlight is definitely playing [in that tournament] in Grenada,鈥� Viquez said. 鈥淎lso, starting against the USA during that tournament was a dream come true!鈥�
鈥淚鈥檝e been inspired by a lot of female athletes like Carli Lloyd or Shirley Cruz, that have persevered through countless career-ending injuries, but still become legends in the game of soccer and continue to play at the highest level,鈥� Viquez said.
Adversity is certainly something she can relate to. After that breakthrough tournament with the Under-17s, Viquez returned to Costa Rica to continue training but suffered an ACL tear, MCL sprain, and bruised patella while playing in a scrimmage against the senior team.
鈥淭his was my biggest setback because it was the summer before my junior year, which is the biggest recruiting year for athletes. I had to rehab in Costa Rica for the rest of the month, and when I came back to the States, I had to transition to a new club team with new teammates and a new coach. It was a very frustrating experience, and I felt like my chances of playing in college were slipping away,鈥� Viquez said.
Come the December of senior year, an unexpected turn of events meant things were looking up once more for Viquez.
鈥淚 had just finished playing in a showcase when Kelsey [Baird, St. Edward鈥檚 women鈥檚 soccer assistant coach] reached out to me because she was interested in me as a player. I had barely played 30 minutes the entire showcase and had no idea when she saw me play.
鈥淢y confidence was so low at that point in my life, and I definitely did not know how to communicate with college coaches back then, so I never responded to her email.鈥�
After some time had passed, Viquez took a leap of faith that St. Edward鈥檚 interest remained, responding to Baird鈥檚 initial email.
鈥淭hey invited me to train with the team, visit [the] campus, and meet with the coaches. I fell in love instantly, but it never registered with me still that they liked me,鈥� Viquez said. 鈥淢y self-esteem was so low that I didn鈥檛 possibly believe that a college coach would want me.鈥�
鈥�After our meeting at the end of the day, I sat in the car with my dad just retelling him everything that they had told me. Saying everything out loud made their words real and put everything into perspective. I asked my dad over and over, 鈥榓re you sure that means they like me?鈥� and then after his millionth yes, I jumped out of the car, sprinted into their office, and yelled, 鈥業 want to go here!鈥欌��听
This past year, Viquez tore her ACL for the second time and experienced deep personal tragedy with her grandparents’ passing, something she with St. Edward鈥檚 University’s Athletics Department. It has hardly been a routine path thus far, but the more challenging moments up to this point have been interspersed with valuable experiences for Viquez. What lies ahead promises to be even more exciting.
鈥淚n the next couple of years, I hope to win a national championship with St. Edward鈥檚 and get the grades and LSAT score to be accepted into law school. However, I would also love to play professionally and play in the World Cup with the senior national team,鈥� Viquez said.
Whether she can play professionally and for her beloved Costa Rica or not, Viquez is making contingency plans through her studies in Austin. Majoring in International Business with minors in Global Relations and French, Viquez is adding a third language to her repertoire with a view to one day potentially working for FIFA.
She is certainly not taking her eye off the ball.
