Utah Valley University (UVU) women’s soccer goalkeeper Idalia Serrano picked up two wins in goal for the El Salvador Women’s National Team. The talented goalkeeper, who has been a standout for the UVU Wolverines, is now making a significant impact on the international stage.
Serrano was called up to the El Salvador Senior Women’s National Team as the squad played qualifying matches for the inaugural W Gold Cup, Sept. 17-24. She started both matches and went a perfect 2-0 in the box during the W Gold Cup Qualifying, picking up a shutout in a 3-0 win over Nicaragua and a 9-1 win against Martinique.
Serrano earned her first cap and start for the El Salvador National Team against Honduras on Nov. 19, 2021. She has been called up numerous times for training camps and competitions. Serrano now has 12 caps with El Salvador. (Caps in soccer refer to the number of appearances players have made with their senior national team.)
The Mendota, California native played and started 14 matches for UVU in 2022, helping the team to secure a WAC regular season championship and a first-ever at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. Serrano tallied 33 saves with three shutouts in 2022, compiling a 6-3-3 record in the box.
Serrano has played in six matches for UVU this season, collecting nine saves and a pair of combined shutouts. She will continue her international career with the El Salvador National Team.
Serrano’s initial reaction to the call-up was nothing short of inspiring. “It was truly an unbelievable feeling like a dream come true,” said Serrano. “Playing for the national team has always been a goal I held close to my heart, and to finally have that chance it was a rollercoaster of emotions, to say the least. Especially since my mom and dad are from El Salvador and our family ties to the country run deep.”
Her selection to the El Salvador National Team is not just a personal achievement but a momentous event for her family. “Playing for El Salvador represents a lot to my family and me,” she added. “It means bringing hope to a country, giving young girls the opportunity to look at the Women’s National Team and to dream. This is a commitment that I deeply treasure and wholeheartedly embrace. I’m ready to give my all to it.”
Serrano’s experience with the El Salvador team has transformed her perspective on soccer and life. She explained, “It’s really shown me how fortunate I am to be in the U.S. and have the opportunities I have as a woman, especially with all the different clubs, high school teams, and college teams. The way we were able to continuously play through our whole life, most girls won’t have that opportunity.”
Her journey with the El Salvador National Team has been an eye-opener in many ways. “I’ve been on the team for about two years now, and women’s soccer has changed so much in those two years. The amount of attention our country is giving women’s sports right now has literally never been seen before,” she noted. “Going over there is a super high-intensity environment, and it really teaches me a lot.”
Reflecting on her time with the UVU Wolverines, Serrano shared some of her proudest moments. “There are a few. I would say the best moment was when we beat BYU because it was like, ‘Wow, we’ve grown a lot.’ And I would say when we got our first-round pick for the NCAA tournament with an at-large bid,” she said. This achievement marked a historic milestone for the team, as they didn’t have to win their conference tournament to secure their spot.
As a soccer player, Serrano attributes her success to her competitiveness, hard work, and commitment. Despite being one of the shorter goalkeepers at 5’3”, she compensates with exceptional footwork, agility, and an unwavering work ethic. “I’m not someone who gives up easily,” she emphasized. “I know that my height is a disadvantage, so I have to go into games knowing that I’m going to have to play harder than a lot of the other girls.”
Looking ahead, Serrano has exciting prospects in both her college and international soccer career. “With my national team, I’m playing for the Gold Cup this spring, and we’re currently number one in our bracket,” she revealed. “This will be the first time ever for El Salvador to qualify for the Gold Cup. It’s a big thing.”
