On Jan. 31, the Puerto Rican U17 Women’s National Soccer Team clinched a 2-1 victory over Bermuda, qualifying them to compete in Nicaragua this March for a spot in the upcoming U17 World Cup. Among the team’s players was number 18, sophomore Victoria Moore — Trinity’s very own star goalkeeper.
Earlier this year, Moore received the call-up notifying her that she had been selected to play on Puerto Rico’s U17 national team. Shortly after, she traveled to Puerto Rico to aid the team in three straight victories over St. Vincent, the Cayman Islands and Bermuda.
Since the team is made up of players from all over the world, but primarily the U.S. and Puerto Rico, they are given extremely limited time to practice together before games — expected to practice and play with one another for the first time all within the same week. Theoretically, this should make playing more difficult. However, according to Moore, there wasn’t much of a learning curve.
“I think it’s cool how all these players that they select just play together,” Moore said. “The chemistry is still there, even though we don’t play with each other on a daily basis.”
As the top-ranked team from their group, Puerto Rico will be one of the twelve teams competing in the final round of qualifiers in Nicaragua this March. There, the teams will be split into three groups of four, with all the group winners and the best second-place finisher advancing to the U17 World Cup in the fall.
Having played for her club and school most of her life, Moore is no stranger to competitive soccer, but she describes her experience playing for Puerto Rico as a unique turning point in her career.
“It was different than club because you [are] representing something way bigger than yourself,” Moore said. “Everyone there was representing the islands.”
Moore began her soccer career in elementary school, playing at her local YMCA, where she fell in love with the sport and discovered the position of goalie — the position she has played ever since.
“When I was little, my coach [asked], ‘Who wants to play goalie?’ and I raised my hand,” Moore said. “I fell in love with the position, and I don’t ever want to play on the field. This is where I want to play. I see the field differently than everyone else and I have to react off of instincts. I like the pressure … [and] making big-time saves.”
Shortly after she began soccer, Moore joined a competitive travel team. From there, she has only continued to improve, making Trinity’s varsity team in eighth grade and playing internationally in ninth for Florida’s state team.
Despite her busy schedule with club and now international play, Moore is still an integral part of Trinity’s own team. According to Varsity Girls Soccer Head Coach Sebastiaan Blickman, Moore has one of the best work ethics on the team, often running before practice or working, even though she should probably be resting.
“Vic is the best goalie on the field, and perhaps even in the state, but also a leader,” Blickman said. “She’s a critical piece, and without her we would really struggle because she bails us out of a lot of tough situations.”
Post high school, Moore hopes to play at the Division I level in college, and after that maybe professionally.
“If she maintains the same trajectory she’s on right now, the sky’s the limit,” Blickman said.
