This summer, Alex Han ‘27 and the Under 15 United States Youth National Team (USYNT) competed and won the Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) tournament in Costa Rica. They played Mexico, Canada, Haiti, Jamaica, and Costa Rica and won all of their games.  

Han has been playing since she was 5 years old,  and currently plays outside back for the Solar Soccer Club Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) 2009 team. Han says she aspires to play Division I soccer in college and hopes to play professionally. 

This summer, Alex Han ‘27 and the Under 15 United States Youth National Team (USYNT) competed and won the Confederation of North, Central America, and Carribean Association Football (CONCACAF) tournament in Costa Rica. They played Mexico, Canada, Haiti, Jamaica, and Costa Rica and won all of their games.  

Han has been playing since she was 5 years old,  and currently plays outside back for the Solar Soccer Club Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) 2009 team. Han says she aspires to play Division I soccer in college and hopes to play professionally. 

Through playing in club games and showcase games with Solar X, she was scouted for the team. She was then called into a regional talent identification centers center within the US for a day where she was invited to a domestic training camp.  

In that camp, she played 2 matches and had 3 practices. After those camps, she was selected and invited to play in the international game.  

“Everyone was super friendly and nice, and we all became friends super quickly, especially since we had done past camps with each other,” Han said.  

They practiced for 4 days in Los Angeles before they left for Costa Rica. In Costa Rica, the team continued to practice, while also getting to spend off-days at the zoo and mall.  

Han says that she loved to play against people from other countries, which she hadn’t had the opportunity to do before.  

“It was really cool to play against other countries because they spoke different languages. All the other teams were super nice and honestly friendly,” Han said.  “It was really cool to meet other people from other countries and environments.” 

During this experience, she says she was able to learn to become more outgoing and make new connections as she was around many new people.  

“Being around new people makes you more outgoing, you need to reach out to other people more and make friends quickly,” Han said. 

During their game against Canada, Han assisted a goal, which helped the team tie Canada in regulation time. They won against Canada in overtime penalty kicks.  

“It was all really exciting, and we all got to have a dog pile on the field. I also got an assist, so that was really memorable for me,” Han said 

Han says one of the most memorable moments was when they won the final game against Team Mexico, 3-0.  

“It was very close for the entire game and when we won it was so exciting,” Han said. “We were all ready to run on to the field.”  

After this experience, Han says she hopes to continue playing and be selected for the Under 16 team next year.  

“Next year, I’m entering my U16 season, so if I get selected again, I’ll be with the U16 youth national team,” Han said. 

She was then called into a regional talent identification centers center within the US for a day where she was invited to a domestic training camp.  

In that camp, she played 2 matches and had 3 practices. After those camps, she was selected and invited to play in the international game.  

“Everyone was super friendly and nice, and we all became friends super quickly, especially since we had done past camps with each other,” Han said.  

They practiced for 4 days in Los Angeles before they left for Costa Rica. In Costa Rica, the team continued to practice, while also getting to spend off-days at the zoo and mall.  

Han says that she loved to play against people from other countries, which she hadn’t had the opportunity to do before.  

“It was really cool to play against other countries because they spoke different languages. All the other teams were super nice and honestly friendly,” Han said.  “It was really cool to meet other people from other countries and environments.” 

During this experience, she says she was able to learn to become more outgoing and make new connections as she was around many new people.  

“Being around new people makes you more outgoing, you need to reach out to other people more and make friends quickly,” Han said. 

During their game against Haiti, Han assisted a goal, which helped the team win in a 13-0 victory. 

“It was all really exciting, and we all got to have a dog pile on the field,” said Han. “I also got an assist, so that was really memorable for me.”  

Han says one of the most memorable moments was when they won the final game against Team Mexico, 3-0.  

“It was very close for the entire game and when we won it was so exciting,” Han said. “We were all ready to run on to the field.”  

After this experience, Han says she hopes to continue playing and be selected for the Under 16 team next year.  

“Next year, I’m entering my U16 season, so if I get selected again, I’ll be with the U16 youth national team.”