New Mexico Soccer Academy U-16 Girls Reach Girls Academy National Finals for First Time

The New Mexico Soccer Academy’s U-16 girls team made program history by advancing to the Girls Academy National Finals, the first time an academy team has reached the championship stage of one of the nation’s premier youth soccer competitions, KRQE reports. The team earned its spot after a strong postseason run against some of the country’s top youth clubs.

Academy officials described the milestone as a significant moment for the players and the organization, noting that the Girls Academy is among the nation’s top platforms for player development and college recruiting. Coaches credited the team’s discipline, resilience and ability to execute against elite competition, along with months of dedicated training and teamwork. Head coach Simon Rothman told KRQE the team deserves it after "a lot of tough days, a lot of 7 o’clock mornings in the cold running fitness."

Team officials say the run has generated excitement across New Mexico’s youth soccer community and highlights the growth of the sport in the state. Academy leaders hope the appearance will inspire younger athletes to pursue competitive soccer and bring greater recognition to local programs, and they said the players have already set a new benchmark for the program.

Editor’s note: Updated Oct. 31, 2026. This story is now part of Daily Reports, our New Mexico news roundup, and was revised to credit KRQE’s original reporting. Learn how Daily Reports works in our editorial standards.