Braden River’s Cami Lizardi to play for Puerto Rico in U-20 cup qualifiers

Playing against older competition isn’t anything new to Braden River High School’s Cami Lizardi.

She has routinely played in older age groups throughout her club soccer career.

Now Lizardi, a Braden River rising senior, is getting the chance to play against even more seasoned players on the world stage.

Lizardi is a member of Puerto Rico’s U-20 women’s national soccer team for the CONCACAF Caribbean Under 20 Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament next week. Puerto Rico is in Group C and will play its games in the Dominican Republic. The tournament is the team’s first step in its bid to qualify for the next U-20 Women’s World Cup.

And she’s doing so as the youngest player on her team as a 16-year-old.

“I’ve been trying to put on weight, so that I can actually compete with these girls, because I’m not that big of a girl,” Lizardi said.

Lizardi chose to play for Puerto Rico based on representing the country of her father, Luis. Players who have at least one parent, grandparent or great grandparent who was or is a citzen of Puerto Rico are eligible for the Puerto Rican team.

“It’s the biggest honor that anyone could ever give me,” Cami Lizardi said. “To represent a country and to be able to be a part of Puerto Rico women’s soccer ... it’s just a really great honor for me.”

In June, Lizardi went to Puerto Rico on two separate occasions.

First she competed against other players vying for one of nine roster spots. Lizardi made the initial cut, and headed back for a second Puerto Rico visit in as many weeks.

But it wasn’t until late last week when it was announced on social media that Lizardi found out she made the squad.

To earn that place, Lizardi relied on her leadership skills.

“I really had to be pretty vocal on the field,” Lizardi said. “Because as a center back, you have to be very vocal and everything.”

Playing center back isn’t something Lizardi has done her entire career. She previously played a center defensive midfield role. Then she filled in during her sophomore season at Braden River along the back four.

In the summer following her sophomore campaign, Lizardi committed to the University of South Florida. The Bulls saw her as a center back, and she has flourished in that role.

“I like, personally, the pressure if you mess up, we’re done, they score a goal,” Lizardi said.

At first, Lizardi said she saw herself as a midfielder and didn’t like the change, but she grew to love the center back role.

She plans to graduate from Braden River in December and early enroll at South Florida.

“The family environment really attracted me,” Lizardi said. “... I want to go play pro somewhere, and coach Denise (Schilte-Brown) always develops girls to go play pro.”

South Florida also gives Lizardi the chance to play in front of her family regularly.

But first she left Monday to join the Puerto Rican team in its preparations for the upcoming games. Puerto Rico plays the Antigua and Barbuda, Bonaire and the Dominican Republic in group play. If Puerto Rico can top its group, then it will continue in the tournament.

“I think we’re going to be the dominant team in this competition over the Dominican Republic, Bonaire and Antigua,” Lizardi said about the first-round matches. “I really think we’re going to dominate those three teams.”

The top two teams from the Caribbean tournament advance to the eight-team CONCACF tournament scheduled for Jan. 18-28. Awaiting there are the traditional powers: United States, Canada and Mexico. In addition, Costa Rica and Nicaragua have qualified from the Central American Zone. Trinidad and Tobago earned an automatic berth as the host squad.

This story was originally published July 10, 2017 at 6:25 PM with the headline "Braden River’s Cami Lizardi to play for Puerto Rico in U-20 cup qualifiers."