SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Just a few months after getting drafted into the National Women's Soccer League, former Santa Clara standout Sofia Huerta has signed on the dotted line to play for the Chicago Red Stars this upcoming season.
"Now that I'm officially signed with the Red Stars, I've only grown to be more excited to see what else comes along in my professional career," said Huerta. "My first goal was first and foremost to be signed. Now that my first goal has been accomplished, I'm really excited but now I have to work towards my other goals."
During preseason play, Huerta started and played in all five matches for the Red Stars. The former Santa Clara forward burst onto the professional scene in her first preseason appearance, whipping in a cross that was headed home by teammate Alyssa Mautz for Chicago's first goal of the new campaign.
"In any season, no matter what level you are at, the first game is always hectic, fast, and doesn't have good rhythm because you haven't played with the girls before," said Huerta. "The Marquette game, for being the first game it actually went pretty well. I don't think I played the best soccer that I've played in my life but I've been consistent and I've been doing well."
Four games later, Huerta found the back of the net for the very first time in her young career, drilling home a strike in the first minute of action to give the Red Stars a 1-0 victory in their final tune-up match before regular season play.
Now officially a member of the Red Star roster, Huerta will join forces with former teammate and Santa Clara All-American Julie Johnston when the two take the pitch this season. With Johnston spending the past few months on international duty with the American squad, the duo will reconnect in the coming weeks for the first time since last playing together as Broncos over a year ago.
"Her and I have been exchanging text messages and we're both excited to see each other and to finally get back on the field with one another," said Huerta.
Johnston has solidified her role in the backline for Chicago while Huerta will most likely see action in the attacking third or primarily at an outside midfield position, a spot on the field that Huerta played and excelled at during her junior year on the Mission Campus.
In addition to now striving towards finding playing time, earning a starting role and being an impactful presence on the pitch, Huerta, plain and simple, strives to make her team better and win.
"Sofia has set some lofty goals for herself and she knows that she has to take this process one step at a time," said Santa Clara Head Coach Jerry Smith. "She has cleared the first hurdle in a long race toward being the impact player she strives to be for the Chicago Red Stars. I look forward to watching her clear the next hurdle that comes her way. She's ready to embrace the next opportunity for growth and success."
Huerta, Johnston and the rest of the Red Star squad will kick-off the 2015 regular season on April 18 when they host the defending champion Seattle Reign FC.
