Jinae “La Niña” Teria landed her dream school and will travel to New York this summer to attend the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
Teria, set to graduate from Tiyan High School June 4, also earned a spot on the Mariners’ first-ever intercollegiate women’s soccer team roster beginning this fall season, according to a Guam Football Association news release.
“Throughout high school, my instructors at Tiyan High encouraged me to plan for my future based on the best path for me,” Teria said. “Prior to the pandemic, my instructor, Col. Frank Flores, advised me take a chance and apply to military academies. At first, I was hesitant to apply due to my fear of failure, but after deciding what I plan to pursue and what I wanted in a school, I realized that the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy is my ‘dream school.’
According to U.S. News and World Report, the Merchant Marine Academy is ranked No. 2 in the United States in Top Public Schools.
Merchant Marine Academy sports teams are part of the NCAA Division III Skyline Conference. The start of its women’s soccer program was announced last year with the goal to build a team to officially compete at the NCAA Division III level by Fall 2022, the Skyline Conference Web site states.
“I really enjoyed meeting Jinae and her family over Zoom and I really like her upbeat, motivated attitude,” said Lt. Andreas Commins, head coach of the Merchant Marine Academy’s women’s soccer team. “She shows a clear desire to improve in every area of her life and that is exactly the type of player I want to help build this program.”
Soccer resume
Teria started to build her soccer resume following her acceptance into the U12 division of the 2014 United Airlines GFA National Academy program. She later matriculated into GFA’s national program and featured on Guam’s U14 Girls National Team in 2015 as a 12-year-old.
The following year, in the AFC U14 Girls Regional Championship in Beijing, Teria scored the eventual game-winner for Guam off a Minami Rabago free kick in the team’s 1-0 victory over Hong Kong, the release stated.
Teria scored off a header in Guam’s 1-0 victory over Hong Kong in the 2017 EAFF Girls Youth Tournament in Shanghai in 2017.
The same year, Teria made her debut for the Masakåda, Guam’s women’s national team, as a starting player in the 2017 Marianas Cup Women’s Competition held in Guam. Later, Teria made her second start for the Masakåda in an international friendly match against Singapore in Singapore, the release stated.
In 2018, she also featured on Guam’s U19 women’s national team at the AFC U19 Women’s Championship Qualifiers in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, among other tournaments.
“The Guam National Program has offered many opportunities for me and other players to develop our skills and techniques on the pitch, as well as instilling in us respect, discipline, and grit,” Teria said.
Teria played for the Sidekick SC in the Triple J Auto Group Robbie Webber Youth League and for the Bank of Guam Lady Strykers in the Bud Light Women’s Soccer League. In 2017, Teria won the Bud Light Women’s Soccer League Fall Season Golden Boot award, scoring seven goals in five matches as a 14-year-old, the release stated.
