Two Huskers Compete with National Teams

Lincoln-Two current Husker soccer players took time away from Lincoln to represent their countries over Thanksgiving break, as Andrea Zuniga and Alexa Cardona competed for Chile and Puerto Rico, respectively. The two local products both completed their freshman year in the Husker program this fall.

 

Zuniga, a native of Omaha, traveled to Miami where she tried out for the Under-20 Chilean national team. She was selected to the 25-member squad as a forward and competed against other Olympic development teams in a four-game tournament. The team went 1-3, but Zuniga earned three starts and saw action in all four games. Zuniga, whose father was born in Santiago, Chile, saw the experience as an honor.

 

“It was a once in a lifetime opportunity so I am very thankful for it,” she said.

 

Zuniga will compete with the team at several tournaments in the spring.

 

Meanwhile, Cardona competed with the Puerto Rican national team in Olympic qualifying in Puerto Rico. Cardona, a native of Lincoln, has been a member of the team for over a year. She played the full 90 minutes in two games against Trinidad and Tobago as a midfielder and forward. Puerto Rico split the games to narrowly miss qualifying, but Cardona still cherished the chance to compete.

 

“It was the best opportunity I have ever experienced in my life,” she said. “It was an honor because the level of play is so high. It is a totally different feeling there. The teams are so good.”

 

Cardona, who is half Puerto Rican and half Cuban, played on the 18-member team with her cousin. Cardona plans to compete with the team at tournaments in the spring.