RR soccer captain Trujillo-Garcia announces college future, headed to Durango

RIO RANCHO — If you watched any Rio Rancho girls soccer matches this season, you likely saw senior striker Kieara Trujillo-Garcia bolting around the Ram Stadium turf with Rio Rancho’s fast-paced attack.

Now, with the fall season in the books, she’ll keep running all the way to Durango, Colorado.

“Colorado has always been on my list to go play soccer,” Trujillo-Garcia said.

On Instagram back in October, the Rio Rancho captain announced her commitment to play soccer at Fort Lewis College in the Centennial State.

“My club coach got in contact with the coach over at Fort Lewis,” Trujillo-Garcia said. “He was telling him about some players on our club team. I stayed in contact with the coach for a while before I said yes, but overall, I think what led up to this was my club coach giving me a lot of support.”

Trujillo-Garcia played her club seasons with the New Mexico Rapids program, picking up the sport when she was just 3 years old. With soccer being with her every step of the way, playing at the collegiate level was a no-brainer.

“They gave me a time limit to say yes or no, thinking over what I really wanted to do, and if this was a good decision for me,” Trujillo-Garcia said. “But I said yes, of course. I could see myself going to school in Durango. It's always been somewhere where I wanted to go.”

But even with the decision being on the easier side, the official commitment did not feel any less rewarding.

“Definitely (feels rewarding),” Trujillo-Garcia said. “Looking back at like my younger self and seeing the hard work is going to pay off. No matter what you decide to do, the hard work is still going to pay off, no matter what.”

That hard work was on display in her final high school season, helping the Rams get back to the state championship game for the first time in more than a decade. Kieara tallied her first double-digit goal season of her Rio Rancho tenure, finishing third in goals and first on the team in assists in the magical Ram postseason run.

“I'm really happy with how we all came together this year,” Trujillo-Garcia said. “I couldn't be prouder. Our coach (head coach Jenna Sievers) has helped us with a big part of that. I'm so happy that I got to experience this before I graduated.”

Kieara will trade in her Ram green and navy for Skyhawk blue and yellow, leaving a young Rio Rancho roster that is full of talent and likely soon to follow in her collegiate footsteps.

“Don't think you're doing too much,” Trujillo-Garcia said, parting some advice to her younger teammates. “Don't be afraid of anything. Dive into what you really want to do, and you'll find the place for you. There's always going to be a place for somebody.”