Mateo Villegas '21 Recruiting Profile

I was born in Ecuador, a country whose main sport is Soccer. But also a country where it is necessary to choose to be an athlete or a college student. I chose to study and continue playing soccer, that's why I'm here.

Getting there has not been easy, but I have really enjoyed the path that I have traveled during my time at some clubs in my country.

I was cycling rider in my childhood, becoming provincial champion and vice national champion in that sport. Perhaps that is why I am a strong and fast player on the court. At the age of 13, I got the trophy of absolute scorer in the parochial tournament and we were champions with Amazonas club. In high school I was captain of the boys' soccer team and we also got an interscholastic championship.

When I was 16 years old, I signed as a player in the national tournament in the under 18 category and I continued playing until I was 17, mantain my 3.49 out of 4.0 academic average. Then I came to the United States fighting against the restrictions due to the pandemic in the world. I have already played 2 high school league games in United States and scored 1 goal in each game. Not bad for someone who, at 13, averaged 2.3 goals per game.

I don't give up in the face of adversity and every obstacle has helped me improve. I believe in myself and I know that my love for football and all the work I have done since I was a child, thanks to my coaches, have made me the player that I am, and that today I knock on the doors of your club to show that I can earn a place on your team if you give me the opportunity to prove it.

Mateo Villegas Cornejo