2009 (Freshman): Cardoso started in all 19 matches as a freshman. She earned second team All-WAC honors in 2009 after leading the Aggies in goals (six), points (12) and shots (41) while she tied for the team-high in shots on goal (19). Cardoso also had one game-winning goal against Hawai’i (Oct. 18). She was 3-for-3 in penalty kicks versus Hawai’i, Northwestern State (Sept. 27) and at Fresno State (Oct. 9). Cardoso scored her first career goal in a 2-1 win at Colorado State-Pueblo (Sept. 4), which was NM State’s first-ever victory. In the 3-0 decision over Texas-Permian Basin (Sept. 16), she had a goal in the team’s first win in Aggie Memorial Stadium. On her first career penalty kick, Cardoso sank the shot at the 68-minute mark to tie the match with Northwestern State at 1-1, which the Aggies ultimately won, 2-1. Her first goal in WAC play occurred in the 3-2 win over Idaho (Oct. 4). Cardoso scored on a penalty kick at Fresno State, and the Aggies shutout the Bulldogs, 2-0, for their first conference road win. Against Hawai’i, she scored her final score of the season on a penalty kick that was also the game-winning goal.
High School/Club: A highly decorated midfielder from Broadway High School, Cardoso earned four soccer letters. She holds the school record for goals scored in a season (22), which she accomplished as a junior, and career goals (48). Following her senior season, Cardoso was selected to play in the Virginia High School League All-Star game. In 2009, she collected Massanutten District and Region III Player of the Year honors along with an all-state selection. Cardoso was a three-time most valuable player and all-district selection. Additionally, she earned all-region honors as a sophomore, junior and senior. Cardoso led the Gobblers to a second-place district finish after posting a 9-8-1 record as a junior. In her sophomore campaign, Cardoso scored 11 goals after she scored 10 and tallied 15 assists as a freshman.
Personal: Cardoso is the daughter of Pureza Romero and was born in El Dormido, Guanajuato, Mexico. She is majoring in biology.
