Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan Women's Soccer and Head Coach Al Meneses are excited to announce the next signee for the Warriors in Ashley Cerqueira.
Ashley Cerqueira will join the Warriors from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. A right winger and attacking midfielder, Cerqueira competed for both Loretto Abbey Catholic Secondary School and North York Academy. She was named a Disney Showcase U19 Finalist with the Athlete Institute in 2024. Her team wes Illinois Fall Cup U19 Finalist after the 2023 season. She was invited to train with Clube De Albergaria (summer of 2023) and C.D. Feirense (summer of 2022) in Portugal.
Her favorite quote comes from famous soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo who said that "talent without working hard is nothing." When asked why she is choosing to come to Southern Wesleyan, Cerqueira said, "I choose SWU because, from the moment I got on campus, I loved the environment. I was super impressed with the coaching staff, the facilities, the academic programs they offered and overall, the soccer program. Everyone was so welcoming and I could tell that everyone wants the best for each other. I felt that SWU will help me reach my full potential as a student athlete and give me the opportunity to succeed in my future endeavors."
The daughter of Elizabeth and Luis Cerqueira, she has a sister, Tanya, and a brother, Bryan. She is undecided in her major.
"Ashley is a fantastic addition to our team for 2024," commented Head Coach Meneses. "She comes from a very competitive club environment in Canada and is expected to make an immediate impact for the Warriors. She has also had the opportunity to train at high levels overseas over the last two years and is a versatile player that can play wing and midfield. Ashley possesses good speed, technical skills, and tactical awareness. She is a hard worker always looking to improve to help the success of her teams. She comes from a great family with a great love for the sport. I am super excited and looking forward to working with her for the next years to come."
