Daniela Fuenzalida

In the past two seasons, Daniela Fuenzalida, midfielder for the Huskies women’s soccer team, has proven herself as an elite athlete at the both the university and international levels.

On the world stage the Saskatoon-born soccer star has made good use of her dual citizenship with Canada and Chile. Fuenzalida recently represented Chile at the 2011 Pan-American Games in Mexico, and also in 2008, a year before she became a Huskie, at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. The tournament was hosted by Chile that year, which made it extra special for Fuenzalida who has family living in the South American country.

“It was awesome because I love soccer and my family could come watch, that made me so happy.”

She switched to a Canadian jersey for the 2011 Summer Universiade in Shenzhen, China. The Canadian team was made up of the top 20 female soccer players in Canadian Interuniversity Sport.

“I’m hoping to train with Chile and see if I can qualify for the World Cup team,” said Fuenzalida.

Now entering her fourth year with the Huskies, Fuenzalida has been named a Canada West second team all-star two seasons in a row. Her best point total came in the 2010-11 season when she recorded six goals and five assists starting in all 14 games as a sophomore with the Huskies.

Off the field Fuenzalida is studying sport psychology and hopes that she can make a career working alongside athletes and sports teams after she graduates.

When she isn’t studying or scoring goals on the soccer pitch, Fuenzalida enjoys the slower pace of golf.

“This summer I got into golf, and during my free time I went golfing with my dad a lot. It’s a fun thing that we can do together,” she said. “I also enjoy spending time with my family at the lake.”

Daniela keeps up with European soccer leagues as well and says if she was to create a fantasy team her first pick would be Lionel Messi of Barcelona, “because he is simply the best player in the world.”

Fuenzalida still has two more years of university sport eligibility, but says she will continue to train even after she graduates from the Huskies.

“I’m hoping to train with Chile and see if I can qualify for the World Cup team.”

The next Women’s World Cup will be hosted by Canada in 2015.

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Photo: Raisa Pezderic/The Sheaf