Kristina Garcia, 19, describes herself as the “silent type.” On the pitch, the Bakersfield College sophomore lets her feet do the talking, playing center midfielder for the BC women’s soccer team.

Garcia began playing soccer at the age of 10 due to her father signing her up for AYSO in Bakersfield. Garcia wears the number 10 on the field because it’s her father’s favorite number.

Garcia explained how her father influenced the sport for her.

“I wanted to play for both of us,” she said, “since my dad never had the opportunity to play any sports when he was in school because his family had to work – they weren’t in good circumstances with money.”

Garcia attended Golden Valley High School for three years and Liberty High School for one year. Garcia played soccer and ran cross country in high school.

Garcia said that when she had the opportunity to return to Golden Valley her senior year after a year at Liberty, she did so.

“I didn’t hesitate or regret anything,” she said. “They have been like my second family and I couldn’t leave them there. That year we became valley champions, so there were no regrets.”

When asked about her influences, Garcia referred back to her father, Jose Garcia, 41.

“He’s always there for me,” she said.

“He’s coached me through my entire life. He always brought out the best of me and really shown to me that there are no boundaries or limits of what you can do.

“He has always supported my goals and dreams,” she said. “When I go through struggles at a point in time he always talks to me and gives me advice. He never puts himself before others.”

Garcia is one of four siblings in her family: brother Albert, 22, and sisters, Elizabeth, 21, and Adriana, 17, who is a senior at Liberty. Albert played soccer and ran cross country, and Elizabeth played soccer throughout their years in high school.

While Garcia proclaimed her love for soccer, she said that she does not want a career in soccer.

“I just like to play it because I love it; I’m passionate about it.”

However, Garcia would take a scholarship in soccer to a university and said that she is hoping for that opportunity to happen.

Garcia did not play her freshmen year at BC due to her original focus at BC.

“I didn’t play my freshmen year of college because I started doing culinary arts, because that’s what I wanted to do,” she said. “It took me a year to realize I wasn’t over with soccer.”

Culinary arts was Garcia’s first major but she changed her major to liberal arts because “they don’t get paid a lot,” she said with a laugh.

Garcia sees herself in 10 years “hopefully married, with kids, teaching and catering,” she said.

Garcia wants to become a teacher and wants to teach any grade from kindergarten through fifth grade and cater professionally.

In her spare time, Garcia said, “I like to cook, shop, and hang out with friends.”

When asked about transferring, Garcia responded, “Probably to CSUB.”

Garcia added that she’s undecided about playing soccer for CSUB.

Being on the only soccer team at BC is significant in Garcia’s life.

“It does mean a lot. It shows that you have other people supporting you even not just soccer also through life’s problems.”

Garcia described how soccer helps her.

“It helps me bring out the competitiveness in me.”

Coach Scott Dameron talked about Garcia’s transition into the women’s soccer team.

“When she came around in the spring and said she was able to play, we were excited because we knew her,” he said.

“She’s got a great work ethic. In the center midfield she covers a lot of ground. She’s a workhorse.”

He continued to talk about how she played during the semester.

“With all the injuries this season, she’s had tons of different playing partners,” he said. “She’s been that one, consistent thing in the middle. They way we play, that’s the person that makes everything go.”

Dameron mentioned her quietness and determination on the field, and he described how it helped the team.

“She’s not super loud but she definitely wins people’s respect with how hard she works.

“She’s a physical player – she’s skillful with the ball. She’s a ball winner – you need people around the middle that aren’t afraid to run people over and get the ball back.

“She’s been very consistent. We’re not ever worried if she’s going to have an off game.”