FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Media Relations

SOMERS, Wis. (Oct. 24, 2014)-- On Friday, October 17, University of Wisconsin-Parkside women's soccer midfielder Mia Espino had an experience of a lifetime, suiting up for the Guatemalan National Team as they took on the powerhouse United States National Team in a Women's World Cup Qualifying match in front her family and friends at Toyota Park near her hometown of Chicago. Behind the scenes, the unforgettable 90 minutes against some of the game's top stars was a nearly six year process for the business management major and redshirt freshman.
 
"Playing in Chicago against the Americans was a dream come true," said Espino. "It was something I've worked for since I started playing soccer. It was not only my dream but my father's dream too."
 
For Espino, the odyssey began with a tryout for the Guatemalan Federation as a seventh grader with her older sister and former Ranger Jasmine Espino. School obligations got in the way but the younger Espino finally got the call to participate at the national level in 2012, earning a spot on the Guatemalan Under-20 squad as they competed at the 2012 CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) U-20 Championship in Panama.
 
After the tournament, Espino returned back to her hometown of Chicago where she finished her prep career at Whitney Young High School, guiding the Dolphins to a City Championship and claiming All-State accolades.
 
The business management major was again pressed into service by "La Seleccion Chapina" playing for the U-20 squad at the 2014 CONCACAF U-20 Championships this past January in the Cayman Islands before finally get the call from the senior national team  as the squad prepped for the 2014 CONCACAF Championships, the regional qualifier for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.
 
One of four athletes on the 20-woman roster playing collegiately in the States, Espino had a whirlwind five days this October, juggling her academic studies while traveling across the country and participating in three matches for the National Team at the World Cup Qualifying event.
 
"My professors were great about getting me homework while I was gone. It was hard and sometimes I just wanted to relax but part of this is overcoming what's thrown at you."
 
Espino started and played 46 minutes in Guatemala's 1-0 loss to Haiti on Oct. 15 in Kansas City, Missouri to open the tournament before playing the entire game in the team's 5-0 loss to the two-time World Champion US National Team two days later in suburban Chicago.
 
"Hearing all the fans and my friends and family rooting for us (in Chicago) pumped me up during the game and helped me push myself when I was tired."
 
The midfielder concluded the tournament on Oct. 20, playing all 90 minutes in Guatemala's 2-1 setback to Trinidad and Tobago at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.
 
"Preseason (with Parkside) got me really fit for the tournament. Our girls are so fit and great about what they eat and do. I brought that discipline to the Guatemalan team."
 
The tournament performance was a huge step forward for the peninsular nation, having been outscored 61-0 in their previous 10 CONCACAF matches, including 13-0 and 9-0 setbacks to the juggernaut American side.
 
Espino looks to continue to make an impact on the pitch both on the international level for an up-and-coming Guatemalan side and with UW-Parkside where she still has four years of eligibility remaining.
 
The sixth-ranked Rangers (12-0-2, 10-0-2 Great Lakes Valley Conference) are back in action this afternoon, taking on the University of Indianapolis at 3:30 p.m. at Wood Road Field.