Maya Chen

I play the game two passes ahead. I read the shape of the defense, find the seam, and put the ball where my forward is about to be.

I’ve played center mid for Harbor City FC since U15. This season I finished with 7 goals and 10 assists, mostly because I finally started trusting my right foot on shots from the top of the box. My left is still better. I’m working on it.

Off the ball, I win tackles I probably shouldn’t. I’m 5′7″ and not the fastest player on the field, but I read passing lanes early enough that speed doesn’t matter as much. My coach calls it smart pressure. I call it paying attention.

I want to play in college, for a team that builds from the back and trusts its 8 to make decisions. Off the field I’m interested in kinesiology. I want to understand how athletes move and why.