Women's Soccer adds Amanda Carvalho of Benicia High

The Cal Maritime Women's Soccer Team announced their latestoffseasonaddition to the 2021 roster in Amanda Carvalho.

Daughter of theHead Men's Soccer Coach, Mike Carvalho, Amanda Carvalho comesaboard for the 2021 season as the Keelhaulerskeep building the nucleus of the team in their third official season in program history.

Mike Carvalho had been the Assistant Coach for the Women's Soccer Program for its first two seasons before taking the helm of Men's Soccer, giving Amanda plenty of opportunities to get familiar with the Women's Team.

"It started with my dad trying to talk me into it since my freshman year, but I always said no," Carvalho said with a laugh when asked what drew her to Cal Maritime."Then I started practicing with the soccer team for a little while because my dad had been working with them. Because of that, it really drew me to it because I was able to build a relationship with a lot of the players andsaw the school and the students all of the time. Talking with Coach Emily and the other players,I realized it has a greatcommunity feel and seemed like something I would be into since it's a smaller school."

Carvalho figures to fit right in bringinga dynamicleadership, as she was captain for her club teamsgrowing upand as a two-yearvarsity player at Benicia High School.

"We are very ecstatic to have Amanda Carvalho commit to our women's soccer program here at Cal Maritime," said Head Coach Emily Scheese. "I have been able to watch Amanda play in various venues over the years, whether at big college showcase tournaments or at local Mare Island indoor games. I have watched her grow into a strong and powerful player and a great vocal leader on the field—qualities our squad will immediatelybenefit from."

She will join an attack led by Caitlin Gibson,Jackie Garcia, andCapri Valdez who when on the field showed significant progressand chemistry together.

"As an attacking center mid, she has great field vision and timing, a tenacity for scoring goals, and a defensive work rate we are excited to see in action," Scheese added."She is a fierce competitor, and we can't wait to welcome her to the Keelhaulerfamily and see her out on the pitch competing for us this fall"

The Benicia native willbe majoring in International Business & Logisticsas she looks forward tostarting her Keelhaulercareer. "I'm excited to see how the school is," says Carvalho. "I've taken a few tours but I'm just ready to be an actual student and start learning."

Carvalho feels her some of her best assets as a player go beyond her physical skillset. "I think I have pretty good leadership ability as I've been a captain on my high school and club team," Carvalho said. "And I have good communication skills. I've always been good at talking to people."

The Cal Maritime Soccer Programs plan to resume intercollegiate competition in the fall of 2021 after having their seasons suspending during the 2020-21 school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.