More Than a Game: Islanders Women’s Soccer Team Gives Back Through Youth Clinic

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Practice makes perfect is a mantra the Islanders Women’s Soccer Team knows well. But on a warm Friday afternoon in April, months before their next season begins, the team isn’t training for themselves. Instead, they’re passing their knowledge on.

On this day, the Islanders trade jerseys for coaching roles, guiding a new generation of players who are just beginning to learn the game.

“They look at us like we’re old, but we’re not that old,” laughs Cilia Leal Cardona ’28, a sophomore forward and civil engineering major. “They’re learning how to respect adults and how to act outside of their parents. It’s cool seeing that growth. They respect us, even though we’re close in age.”

The players they coach, second through fifth graders at Gloria Hicks Elementary, are part of a free, nine-week soccer clinic held every Friday afternoon during the spring of 2026. What began as a small service project has quickly grown into something much bigger.

The program was Leal Cardona’s idea.

“As part of the Honors College, we have to complete a service project,” she said. “I started this because I remembered how fortunate I was to play travel sports and get exposure to college coaches, but that came with a big financial and time commitment for my family. I wanted to give kids a free chance to explore the sport and hopefully make an impact.”

Leal Cardona launched the program during her freshman year at the Boys & Girls Club of the Coastal Bend, where a small but dedicated group of about a dozen kids showed up each week. This year, after partnering with Gloria Hicks Elementary, participation has surged to 60–70 students.

With that kind of growth, she needed help — and found it in her teammates.

“Having all these girls come out and support me is just awesome,” Leal Cardona said. “They’re my second family. My real family is in Dallas, six and a half hours away, but these girls are right here. It means a lot to have them be part of this.”

Roughly 10 teammates join her each week, stepping into roles as coaches and mentors. Together, they organize drills, divide students into teams, and create an environment where learning and fun go hand in hand.

“I enjoy coming out here — it brings out a different side of me,” said Viviana Sykes ’28, a sophomore on the team. “It’s helped me grow as a leader. I love seeing the students improve and have fun at the same time.”

The lessons extend beyond the soccer field. For many of the elementary students, the clinic is also an introduction to teamwork, discipline, and confidence.

“Our students are learning social skills, discipline, the importance of physical activity, and most importantly, teamwork,” said Kathryn Ortiz, Principal of Gloria Hicks Elementary. “Our parents have been very supportive, and we’re excited to continue this partnership with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.”

For Sophia Dias ’29, a freshman on the Islanders Women’s Soccer Team and elementary education major, the experience has reinforced her passion for both teaching and service.

“I plan to stay involved next spring and continue helping the program grow,” Dias said. “This clinic is about more than soccer. It’s about building connections, fostering confidence, and creating opportunities for kids in our community.”

The impact is already visible — not just in improved footwork, but in inspiration. Many of the young athletes now see college as part of their future, with some already dreaming of becoming Islanders themselves.

“We wear our Islander T-shirts, and the kids get so excited,” Leal Cardona said. “They chant, ‘The Islanders are here!’ I love representing my university, and they think the Islanders are cool.”

For the Islanders Women’s Soccer Team, it’s a different kind of victory — one that won’t appear in any standings but shows up in the smiles of the kids they’re mentoring and the stronger bond forming among teammates.

“The clinic has strengthened our team chemistry by allowing us to work together in a setting outside of regular practices,” Dias said. “It has encouraged better communication, teamwork, and a shared sense of purpose as we give back to the community by sharing our love for the game.”