Math teacher and girls’ soccer coach Kelli Moline was inducted to the University of New Mexico’s hall of fame for her contribution to the female soccer program. Moline was the University’s only alumna selected to be honored in a ceremony on April 21.

“It was definitely a honor, and I was very humbled because there are so many great athletes and women who came out through the program,” Moline said.

Moline began playing soccer when she was 5-years-old. At San Clemente High, she won a CIF championship, playing the position of goalkeeper.

At the University of New Mexico, Moline was a two-time College Soccer 360 Prime Time Performer and a member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Pacific Team.

“I was also awarded a lot of academic awards, too, which I think is more of an accomplishment than athletic awards just because [I was] juggling a full schedule and being an athlete, classes, workouts, and everything like that,” Moline said. “I was on our conference academic team, I was on our school academic team [and] the region academic team.”

Not only was Moline an avid participant in many academic activities, but she also formed many lasting relationships with her teammates.

“[Soccer] creates such a special bond with the girls that you play with because you go through your highest highs and lowest lows together; we lived together and we went to class together,” Moline said.

Moline conveys her passion for soccer on Portola’s field as a coach to the frosh-soph team.

“I am so grateful to have the opportunity to coach the girls’ soccer team here and to give back to the game that gave me so much,” Moline said. “I am really passionate about the game and being able to empower the students that we have here and share my passion with them.”