MOSCOW, Idaho – Incoming freshman Myah Merino spent her summer hard at work, competing with her local club team Carlsbad Elite at the United States Youth Soccer National Championships in Frisco, Texas.
 
"We went to the National Championships this year in Texas," said Merino.  "We had previously gone to the one last year in Oklahoma.  We didn't make it out of the semis last year but we thought we had a better chance this year.
 
"We competed all summer and we were ready to be competitive.  We made it to the final but we didn't finish it off.  But it was a good run."
 
Carlsbad won its group in the preliminary stages with seven points.  Carlsbad opened play by dominating Syracuse, 6-0, before defeating the NJ Stallions, 3-1, the following day.  Needing just one point in the final game to win the group, Carlsbad did just that with a 0-0 draw against Ohio-based Ambassadors.
 
Carlsbad took down another team from Ohio, KHA Red, 2-1 in the semifinal before eventually falling to Tennessee SC in the final.
 
"I'm really proud of Myah and the accomplishments that she was able to achieve with her team," said head coach Derek Pittman.  "I thought they did an excellent job making it all the way to the final.  Her involvement in the tournament over the course of group play and knockout stages was crucial to her team's success and helping influence them and get them all the way to the final.  It's just unfortunate that they came up just a little bit short."
 
It's the second straight season that an incoming Vandal advanced to the championship game.  Last year, current Vandal Kayleigh Frederick helped Carlsbad take home the USYS National Championship.  This year's squad used that strong Carlsbad bond for motivation heading into the final site.
 
"I have a lot of friends on the older team, they definitely inspired the younger team," Merino said.  "They pumped us up and gave us good advice.  That's one of the reasons that we were so excited to go to nationals this year.  We wanted to do what they did."
 
Moving forward, experience is crucial in the college game and Merino comes to Idaho with plenty.
 
"We all felt like it really prepared us a lot for college, so it was all worth it," said Merino.  "This national championship definitely gave me a sneak peak of what it's going to be like at the college level."
 
"That experience is going to serve her really well at Idaho in playing in a championship environment, which is something that we strive for year-in and year-out in our program in the Big Sky," Pittman said.  "We're excited to have her back and joining up with us in the preseason."
 
The extra playing time meant no extended summer break for Merino, but she certainly doesn't seem too worried.
 
"I'm ready," Merino said.  "I took Tuesday off to recover.  I'll be fine."
 
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