Amador’s rising star Maylen Montoya (‘25) emerged as EBAL All-League Player of the Year. Her journey to league prominence is defined by grit, talent, and an unwavering dedication to her sport.
Reflecting on her journey, Montoya shares that soccer has been something she has been very serious about ever since she was little. Soccer has given her something to strive to be great at every day and challenge herself.
“I’ve been playing soccer ever since I was young and I’ve just played for the club here, [Rage]. It’s just been something I’ve been passionate about and I’ve had fun playing so it’s been easy to keep playing,” said Montoya.
Montoya emphasizes the importance of showing up for practices and sticking to her routine. Keeping the balance between commitment and enjoyment fuels her steady performance on the field.
“Showing up in practices, [I] have fun and just staying consistent in my routine,” said Montoya.
Dealing with pre-game anxiety and self-doubt has been one of the main challenges in her sports journey.
“I get a lot of anxiety or stuff before games. I just have a lot of self-doubt, but I have good coaches who support me, and also my teammates are really supportive, so that helps me a lot,” said Montoya.
Montoya is always trying to improve the way she plays soccer. Right now, the main areas she’s working on are her confidence and technical skills.
“[I’m working on] my confidence because that’s something I lack. Then also like it’s mostly the mental part but then also there’s still a lot of technical stuff I need to grow on,” said Montoya.
A huge part of her success as a player is the team dynamic. The team fosters a trusting environment.
“Teamwork is one of the most important parts because our team this year was super connected and we all liked each other,” said Montoya. “We were able to build off of that because we trusted each other. We knew each other well.”
Montoya acknowledges the invaluable role played by the team’s captains and seniors. Effective leadership not only guides the team tactically but also fosters a positive team culture. It ensures everyone is working towards a common goal.
“Our captains and seniors were able to lead. They were able to keep everyone focused so that definitely had a big impact,” said Montoya.
Montoya reflects on the impact of her team and coaches on her development as a player throughout the year. Her acknowledgment underscores the influence of a supportive and encouraging team culture on individual player growth and development.
“The team and coaches, since it was such a positive environment, it has helped me grow this year because like since they were so supportive and I guess fun to be around it helped me grow in a good environment,” said Montoya.
Looking ahead, Montoya sets her sights on achieving success in both high school and club soccer. She aims to continue her soccer career into the next stages.
“I hope to continue my soccer career and in general. I hope to continue my soccer career in a club and hopefully college,” said Montoya.
