Kari Moore, who played four years with the club from the ages of 15 -19 has completed her successful collegiate soccer career by recently competing in the NAIA National Championship final in Alabama with Point Loma.
Kari, whilst in her final year with San Clemente United was part of our successful girls 19's team who won league going undefeated in their final season and reaching the State Cup semi finals. Kari and a bunch of her team mates went their seperate ways all over the U.S to play collegiate soccer and her amazing soccer journey has taken her to Washingston, Alabama and Brazil last year.
Whilst Kari was with San Clemente United she also represented her community by playing for San Clemente High School (a programme which was recently ranked no.1 in the nation) During her time at San Clemente High School Kari won league 2005, 2006 and in her final year captained the team to league success also winning the athlete of the year at the SCHS, which is a tremendous honor.
After a successful high school and club career, Kari played her next season at Santiago Canyon College, where they finished first in the Orange Empire Conference, advancing to win the California State Finals and placing 2nd in the nation. Again Kari collected individual honors by being awarded- MVP of the State Tournament.
Her next step was to transfer and play at Point Loma where she has been a scholar athlete from 2007-2009, awarded NAIA Champion of Character 2007 and recipient of the Women's Soccer McNeilly/PLSA Scholarship Recipient 2009.
Mission Work (Love Works) Point Loma in Brazil 2009
Kari re her final year at Point Loma
"For every team each year is an exciting new start. Arriving at training camp in August we go around the circle, each team member sharing their goals for the upcoming season. Some saying beat APU (rival team), take first in league, make it through the season alive, and hopes of going to Nationals. Little did we know at that this season was going to be longest and most rewarding season of our lives. We had a rough start of league play losing 3 back to back games we all knew things needed to change and the only way it will happen is devotion and will. Despite our setbacks we made it to GSAC league finals after defeating APU in shoot outs. We faced Vanguard in league finals and took them 0-0 into double over time and then into shoot outs where we lost. Although we were upset we still had our heads up because taking second in GSAC pretty much garneted us to the NAIA National tournament.
First round of Nationals took us up to Bellingham, WA. The beautiful rainy cold Pacific North West where we faced Simon Fraser who are from Burnaby, B.C. Canada. With ear warmers, mittens, and layer upon layers we took Simon Fraser into overtime defeating them 1-0 .
Next stop Decatur, Alabama. Round 2: We had a chance to get revenge of Vanguard who we lost league finals to in shoot out. It was cold under the lights but we played the game of our lives defeating them 6-1.
Round 3: Played Lindsey Wilson from Kentucky who ranked #1 in NAIA. Game was a mud fight! Couldn’t pass the ball on the ground father than 2 feet otherwise the ball would get stuck. It wasn’t the prettiest or the cleanest game but none the less this was a game I will never forget. We defeated them 2-0 in regulation time and were covered head to toe in mud.
Round 4 APU: We knew this was going to be a battle. APU wanted to get revenge after we knock them out of league finals. After double over time we took them to shoot outs and came out the wins! We were shocked! We, Point Loma Women’s Soccer team was playing in the National Championship game!!
Final game: Played the defending champion team, Lee from Tennessee. Time to layer up for the last time ! It was 25 degrees and for a group of Southern California Beach girls it felt like -10 but who needs to feel their legs anyways? The game was a battle from the start. In the end we lost 2-0 but had nothing to cry over except this was it this was end to our ride and as a Senior this was the end to my soccer career. I am still in awe and feel tremendously blessed to have had such an amazing ending to my career. What a ride it has been and it all began at home with San Clemente United! "
men’s Soccer McNeilly/PLSA Scholarship Recipient
