McIntyre's soccer journey takes her to Vegas, commits to Highlands

RIO RANCHO — From Rio Rancho to Spain to the high school state final to now.

Madeline McIntyre’s soccer journey has taken her all over the map. Next stop on the tour? Las Vegas, New Mexico.

McIntyre signed a letter of intent to play for New Mexico Highlands University at Rio Rancho High School’s signing day Nov. 12.

“Just to get the opportunity is obviously a huge milestone,” McIntyre said. “It’s just a huge gift from God to be able to keep on doing the sport that you love.”

The NMHU signee has been playing soccer in New Mexico since she was 3 years old, playing school and club through that time. While she has countless matches and practices under her belt here in-state, she credits a lot of her development to an overseas trip to Spain with her club “Atletico.”

“Our club got to train in Spain. I went last year, and I just felt like it really developed me as a player,” McIntyre said. “Over there, soccer is life. Every moment of their day is about soccer. Just being in that environment, even for just a short amount of time — we were only there for 13 days — but it really just changed my perspective and mindset.”

That foreign influence ended up being the fuel to the fire in McIntyre’s pursuit of a collegiate career. But even with the Spanish spark, a different trip may have left more of an impact on the Rio Rancho standout.

McIntyre’s soccer career was impacted by … a family trip to the lake?

“I have family that lives in Vegas, and we happened to be going up to spend a weekend on the lake,” McIntyre said. “My dad saw that there was like a recruiting camp at Highlands. He said, ‘It’s just one morning, just give it a shot,’ and I said OK. I went out, and I met Coach Amanda, and she really liked me as a player.”

Going on a vacation and coming back with a college offer — not a bad way to spend your summer. Many wouldn’t think to compare Spain to Las Vegas, New Mexico, but for McIntyre, her experiences with both made her introduction to Cowgirls soccer click.

“I think the biggest thing that stuck out to me is that they have a lot of international players,” McIntyre said. “Just with my experience of getting to play against girls in Spain, and then also just my background, my club, the style we play is very much like one to two touches, quick possessions. I just felt like that was a similar style to Highlands and what Coach Amanda was trying to do there. And it was just kind of perfect.”

Highlands will look for McIntyre and the incoming class to provide a boost to the program, searching for its first winning season since 2014. Helping turn programs around is something the midfielder is familiar with, coming off a run to the title game with the Rams in her senior season.

“Playing for Rio Rancho has been a great experience. I moved to RRHS my sophomore year, so (Rams’ Head Coach) Sievers has been my coach all three years,” McIntyre said. “That’s different for a lot of the other girls, because Rio had that five-year stretch or so where we had a different coach each year.”

McIntyre, along with Kieara Trujillo-Garcia, are the two Rams in the 2026 class headed to the collegiate level from Jenna Sievers’ program, a program full of young talent that will likely follow in their next-level footsteps.

“She (Sievers) genuinely just truly wants the best for us and pushes us to be the best individuals we can be on and off the field,” McIntyre said. “ I will say the biggest reason why we went so far this year was that we genuinely all care so much about each other, and we want everyone to succeed. It’s not one person being selfish and taking it for themselves.”

Whether it’s overseas or here in-state, McIntyre believes the younger Rams and her younger club teammates will find their places just like her.

“You will find your place genuinely. There are so many schools out there, and all you need is one to give you the opportunity,” McIntyre said. “Just be yourself when you go to these camps. Don’t act like another player. Just be the best version of yourself.”