Kasandra O.-C. ’28 traveled twice to Nicaragua to play for the U-17 National Women’s Soccer Team, following in her older sister’s footsteps,

Near the end of last November, Kassandra traveled to Nicaragua to try out for the national team. After qualifying, she was invited back to participate in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers tournament during the last two weeks of March.

Kasandra has been playing soccer for the past 10 years. “I found [soccer] as something I couldn’t go days without,” she said. After watching her sister play for the national team, Kasandra was inspired to pursue the same path. “I was in contact with the coach after I heard from Esperanza all her amazing experiences, so I also wanted to reach out myself,” she said.

At first, Kasandra worried about not finding a sense of belonging, coming from a mixed background of Nicaragua and the United States. “I’m coming from two very different sides of my family… I just felt a little bit disconnected from my Nicaraguan ethnicity,” she said.

However, these concerns quickly faded as she bonded with her teammates. Over the four weeks spent with her teammates, Kasandra formed countless life-long memories. Whether through games, outdoor activities, or spending time in the pool, she found a strong sense of community. “Even the days we had a rough game or hard practice, we ended up having so much fun because we were all together,” she said. “They felt like family, it just felt like we clicked immediately.”

Through this experience, Kasandra gained a deeper appreciation for connection and community, especially with the rise of conflict within shared communities. “We see here so much hate and separation from even your own community… [In my team,] we seem so different, but also we found ways to connect through our culture and blood,” she said.

Kasandra played a total of eight games during her time with the team. After returning to school, she continues to catch up on the academic work she missed during her time away. Despite the demanding workload, she expressed gratitude for the support she has received from her friends, family, and teachers.

“She has played soccer her whole life and I feel like she’s been working up to this moment, and to be nationally recognized for her skill is an incredible accomplishment and she deserves it so much,” said Giselle R. ’28, a good friend to Kasandra.

Kasandra also shared advice for aspiring soccer players hoping to compete at the national level. “Even if it seems so out of reach for you and something that you can never accomplish or do, try it out,” she said. “The goal of living is to experience even if you think it’s going to be so hard coming back or bouncing back from it… Go live your life.”

Suggested Reading:

• “It’s Just So Much More Than Just Playing Soccer.” Esperanza O. ’26 Is Selected for the U-17 National Women’s Team of Nicaragua