Buford soccer star Ava Rodriguez earned a call up to the El Salvador National Team where she helped ‘La Selecta’ — or ‘the National Team’ – in the U17 World Cup qualifiers.
Rodriguez scored three goals with three assists during the tournament and despite not qualifying for the World Cup, the midfielder enjoyed the experience of being in the tournament.
“(It was) something unimaginable, when I look back it does not seem real that I was able to be a part of something so great,” she said. “Even though the practices were hard, practicing through 90-degree heat three times a day. It was all worth it.”
The qualifiers are a two-round process starting with 24 teams with 8 teams qualifying.
Rodriguez and El Salvador placed top of the first round of qualifiers. In the second round, the eight qualified squads are joined by four new teams, where four teams will advance to the U17 World Cup. El Salvador placed just short of the top four, finishing in sixth place.
Rodriguez returns to Buford after back-to-back seasons of making it to the state championship and fueled by the gut-wrenching losses. With the Wolves returning experienced players — and a rising junior, Rodriguez — Buford is hungry for the program’s first-ever title.’
“My goals for next season with Buford are to make all County, score at least 10 goals, and make it for the 3rd consecutive year in a row to the state championship,” she said.
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