Villalpando reverses field

After tasting success with Mexican professional and national teams, Southland teen confident in decision to back out of UCLA scholarship

- BY JAD EL REDA

DYLAN BUELL Getty Images for World Sevens Football MIA VILLALPANDO competes for Tigres in the World Sevens Football tournament in Florida in December.

Mia Villalpando made one of the most important decisions of her young career when she stuck with Tigres UANL Femenil and continued on her path as a professional soccer player, setting aside the option to play at UCLA despite having accepted a full scholarship.

Villalpando, 17, grew up in Bonita, Calif., and initially signed an Under-19 contract with Tigres that allowed her to retain her college eligibility. She trained in Mexico but committed to attend UCLA last fall. However, several factors tipped the scales against a move to Westwood, including the departure of Margueritte Aozasa, the Bruins coach who recruited her.

"The coach left for another job, and that had a big influence," Villalpando said. "I talked to my agent and my family, and although it wasn't an easy decision, I felt that after playing the minutes I played at Tigres and competing with professionals, going to college soccer would be a step backward in my development."

She said she had a conversation with Gof Boyoko, who took over as coach of UCLA, and explained that Aozasa's departure "changed a lot for me."

His reaction gave her peace of mind.

"The entire staff was very understanding and happy for me. They were sad that I wasn't joining them but they supported me completely and that helped me a lot to feel at peace with the decision," Villalpando said.

Although education always has been a priority in her family and she was grateful for the opportunity at UCLA, the season of club soccer she played before joining Tigres made it clear to her that she needed a tougher environment.