How do most teenagers spend their summer and fall? Sleeping in, working a summer job, hanging out with friends, starting up school. Try representing your country on the national stage and dominating. That’s the reality for Pioneer junior Olivia Bevilacqua and Puerto Rico.
Middle of August, 2023, Bevilacqua got word that she’d been selected to represent Puerto Rico in the under-17 national team in the CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football) qualifiers. She’d have to travel to the Dominican Republic, all on her own, to represent Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico’s first game was on August 25 against the U.S. Virgin Islands. Bevilacqua came on at halftime to make her international debut with Puerto Rico up 3-0. “It was incredible,” she said. “(I was) honored to be able to play.”
Bevilacqua played exceptionally well, scoring a hat trick and staying on until the final whistle with Puerto Rico defeating the Virgin Islands 9-0. “I was just having fun. I just wanted to do my best and it made it meant a lot (to me),” she said.
Bevilacqua’s coach for her club team, the Nationals, David Robertson had nothing but praise for the junior, applauding her ability to perform anywhere. “Liv can see and do extraordinary things in any environment, making a player like her a true joy to watch,” he said.
Because Bevilacqua’s family couldn’t travel with her, this was a special experience for her. “For them to be able to see me perform on TV, and to know that they were watching the game, “it was really cool,” said Bevilacqua.
Wearing the kit and being apart of the team meant a lot to Bevilacqua. ”It was really special to be able to wear the Puerto Rican crest and feel connected to the country,” she said.
Bevilacqua’s time representing Puerto Rico was nothing like what she had ever experienced before. “I have never been in an environment where I was representing a country and part of my heritage,” she said.
During training in the middle of September, Bevilacqua was told she was selected to represent the Puerto Rican National Team during their women’s Gold Cup qualifying match against Mexico. “It was crazy… I thought maybe I’d be called up to the (under-20 team) or something like that, like an older age group, never the full national team,” Bevialcqua said. “I didn’t think that was possible.”
Robertson wasn’t as surprised, citing how talented the local and regional areas are and how competitive the environment is. “If you can shine here locally, you have all the tools to shine on even bigger stages now and in the future,” he said.
The national team was unlike any other experience for Bevilacqua. There was less supervision, more freedom, and all around more maturity. The biggest difference for Bevilacqua though, was the players. “You could definitely see the difference. I mean, obviously they’ve been in the gym a lot (longer) than I have. And they just there’s some qualities about them,” she said. “ Their intensity and training is a lot different than what I experienced at home.”
Robertson believes strongly in Bevilacqua though, especially in the way she models her game and her love for learning more. “You can tell she is a student of the game, mirroring herself on some of the best midfielders (like) Xavi or Iniesta,” said Robertson.
For her next steps, Bevilacqua is hoping to continue playing soccer at the next level. “College is something I want to do, so that’s a big focus,” said Bevilacqua. “I hope wherever I go, I’m having a great time playing there.”
But right now soccer isn’t taking a front seat to Bevilacqua’s education as at the end of the day she is a student-athlete, hoping to further her soccer and educational path at a . “I am prioritizing academics. So that comes first,” said Bevilacqua.
As far as soccer is concerned, Bevilacqua hopes the national team calls again. “I would love to be considered for the full national team (again)… it would be
an honor,” she said. “I just hope that I will continue to be in the picture for (them).”
Robertson and everyone else back in Michigan are incredibly proud of Bevilacqua and her journey to where she is now. “Accomplishments like this are something exciting to be celebrated, and we are all cheering Liv on from back home in Detroit!” he said.