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LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV women's soccer program signed five commitments for the fall of 2021, head coach Jenny Ruiz-Williams announced Thursday. The class is made up of two Las Vegas locals, Viviana Cera and Jena Madrid, a Canadian signee in Daniela Ramirez, a Utah signee in Kennedi Schmidt and a Hawaii native, Ali Fuamatu-Ma'afala.

"I am really excited about the culture and chemistry that we are generating in our program and the talent we are attracting," said Ruiz-Williams. "Our staff is always hunting for future Rebels that will not only elevate our program athletically and academically, but as people. Discipline, integrity and grit define these signings, and I know that these five young women will positively impact our team immediately."

Cera, one of the two Las Vegas signees, will stay home after graduating from Centennial High School this spring. Entering her senior season, Cera is a three-year letterwinner who has impressed with 20 career goals and 27 assists, while the versatile signee has played defense, midfield and forward during her prep career. Cera also has experience playing with the Philippines National Youth team. She plans on majoring in kinesiology at UNLV.

Madrid, the second Las Vegas signee, will be a four-year letterwinner at Bishop Gorman High School when she graduates in the spring. Madrid's father, Michael, played for the UNLV men's soccer program from 1987-1992, making the pair the first father-daughter duo to play for the Rebels. As a sophomore, she started every game for the Gaels, helping them going 27-0-1 and capture a state championship. The midfielder has overcome her fair share of adversity during her prep career, coming back from two injuries that kept her out of her freshman and junior seasons. She will play her final campaign in the spring after the fall season was postponed. Madrid has played club soccer for 12 years, with 11 seasons coming at Las Vegas Sports Academy, and spent two years with the Nevada Olympic Development program. Madrid plans on majoring in business at UNLV.

Ramirez, an international signee out of Surrey, British Columbia, will come to Las Vegas after graduating from Burnaby Central Secondary School in the spring. She's played her prep ball for the Whitecaps FC Girls Elite Super REX program since 2017, which is the same program current Rebel freshman Sophia Seibel hails from. Ramirez is also experienced playing on the national team level as a member of the Canadian National Team and competed in the CONCACAF U15 Championships in 2018. She speaks both English and Spanish. Her parents are originally from El Salvador as her father Jose was born in the capital city of San Salvador and her mother Jessica was born in the city of Sonsonate. She plans on majoring in english at UNLV.

Schmidt, a Lehi, Utah, native, was a four-year starter at Lehi High School, where she most recently helped the Pioneers capture a 13-0-5 record and a regional championship during her senior campaign this fall. The standout amassed 66 goals and 53 assists during her prep career, making her a four-time all-state and all-region selection to go along with three offensive most valuable player awards. Schmidt also excelled in the classroom as she earned Academic All-State honors all four years. She plans on majoring in kinesiology at UNLV.   

Fuamatu-Ma'afala will come to Las Vegas from Mililani, Hawaii, where she attends Mililani High School - the same high school current Rebel Gabrielle Hackbarth graduated from. The versatile attacking player will be a four-year letterwinner when she graduates in the spring. In three seasons, Fuamatu-Ma'afala has helped the Trojans to a 24-1-5 record and two league championships. Most recently during her junior campaign, she was named her team's offensive player of the year in addition to serving as team captain. For the last nine years, she has played club ball for Arsenal FC and also competed in Hawaii's Olympic Development program. Her dad, Chris, played in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1998-2002. A projected valedictorian for her class, she is planning on majoring in business at UNLV. 

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