WESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S SOCCER MIDFIELDER
NATSUKI'S SOCCER CAREER
Don’t be a nice person—be a soccer player
Soccer has been a part of my life since I was six years old. From playing on boys’ teams in my hometown of Oita, Japan, to joining a professional youth academy, and now competing as a student-athlete in the U.S., the game has shaped who I am. Every step of my journey has pushed me to grow stronger, work harder, and stay true to my love for the sport.
My Italian coach told me this when I played semi-professionally in New York in the summer of 2024. I was shocked by how physically strong, bold, and intense American players were. After watching my playing style, he told me that being nice isn’t enough on the field. You need to be strong—not just a good person, but a real soccer player who can fight. Since then, I’ve kept those words in my mind every time I play. That advice pushed me to grow and level up as a soccer player.
MY CAREER TIMELINE
Early Years (Ages 6–12)
I began playing soccer at age six, inspired by my older brother. Since there were no girls’ teams in my area, I joined a local boys’ team and competed with them for six years. This experience helped me build resilience, confidence, and a fearless mindset from a young age.
Youth Academy Training (Ages 12–15)
At 12, I was selected to join the youth academy of the professional club Oita Trinita. Although it was a long journey, my father drove me an hour each way for weekly training. On other days, I continued practicing with my brother’s boys’ team. Balancing both environments helped me sharpen my technical skills and deepen my understanding of the game.
High School Commitment (Ages 15–18)
I moved six hours away from home to attend Sakuyo High School in Okayama, where I lived in a dorm and fully committed myself to soccer and academics. During these three years, I grew not only as a player but also as a leader and student, ranking first in my class while training daily.
International Experience (Ages 18–Present)
After one year at Kansai University, I made the bold decision to transfer to Western Colorado University in the United States. Competing at the college level while studying in a new language has been both challenging and rewarding. I've grown as a player, improved my English, and developed a global perspective—setting the foundation for my future as both an athlete and educator.
Soccer History
- 2024 summer: New York Magic (semi-pro: USL W-League)
- 2023-2024: Western Colorado University Women’s Soccer Club
- NCAA women’s soccer second team all-conference (2024)
- 2022-2023: Kansai University Athletic Association Soccer Club
- 2019-2022: Sakuyo High School Women’s Soccer Club
- Japanese National Tournament 2nd place
- 2016-2019: Oita Trinita Ladies: Captain
- Japanese National Tournament best 8
- International Sports Tournament members selected
- 2010-2016: Nakatsu Okidai Junior Soccer Club (Boys team): Vice-Captain
- Nakatsu POMATO football club (Girls team): Captain
Western Colorado University Women's Soccer
5'2"
Midfielder
2024: Voted a second-team All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference player … named to the College Sports Communicators' (formerly CoSIDA) NCAA Division II Academic All-District Team … voted an RMAC All-Academic First Team selection … played in 17 games with 11 starts … led the team in points (8) while scoring 3 goals with 2 assists … accumulated 957 minutes of action for an average of 56 minutes per game.
2023: Didn't take long to score her first collegiate goal, picking up Western's lone score in it's fourth game of the season, a 2-1 loss to visiting Midwestern (Texas) State (9/10/23) … added an assist during the Mountaineers' 3-1 home win over New Mexico Highlands (10/01/23) … played in 15 (of 18) games, getting the starting call twice … accumulated 465 minutes of action during the season, including a season high 58 in the Midwestern State game.
Western Colorado University Career Stats
