Her player card combine score of 84 ended up being one of the highest scores in the United States and Canada for 2012 girls. Shortly after the first event, Serafini was invited to the national event: the All-American Golden Cup, which is held in two locations each year in Round Rock, Texas and Naples, Fla.

The Golden Cup events see more than 800 players each year from across the United States and Canada, with both boys and girls divisions from U8 and U9 through U15 and U16.

After Christmas, Serafini and her family headed to Naples, Fla., to join hundreds of youth soccer players from more than 30 of the United States and Canada at the Golden Cup. Serafini opted to attend the performance training session on Dec. 28 with professional coaches from teams like Inter Miami, and ultimately ended up meeting and befriending two girls who would later become her teammates for the week.

On evaluation day, Serafini shined bright, and was first selected for Team Liberty, but coaches made a trade to bring her onto Team Stripes.

PHOTO PROVIDED
Central Mountain’s Adriana Serafini is shown competing as she represented Pennsylvania in the All-American Gold Cup.

Over the next few days, the teams participated in four full-round robin games with other 2012-2013 girls, with Team Stripes going 3-1 during round robin play. This was enough to take first in their division and secure a place in the championship match on New Year’s Day.

The other teams in their division battled to see who would make it to the final, and at 3 p.m., it was Team Stripes vs. Team Stars. By the championship match, Team Stripes displayed true teamwork and it was clear that the girls had formed a bond during the week.

At the Golden Cup, the 2012-2013 girls division played 7-v-7 games with eight players assigned to each team. On Team Stripes, Serafinia was joined by players from Florida, Kentucky, Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland, Florida and Canada and were coached by Timmy Jenkins of Kentucky.

Even though every game during round robin play was only won or lost by a small margin, Team Stripes won the championship, 5-0, with Serafini scoring two goals and making two assists during the final match. Watching them play, one would never know that just a few days before, none of the girls had ever even played together.

“Playing in the Golden Cup was one of the most fun and amazing soccer experiences I have ever had. I loved meeting my teammates and making new friends,” Serafini said.

PHOTO PROVIDED
Central Mountain’s Adriana Serafini (fourth from left, front row) represented Pennsylvania in the All-American Gold Cup.

Serafini was tired, but said she would still be up for more soccer.

“There’s always time for soccer,” she said.

In Pennsylvania, Serafini plays soccer for the FC Montour 2012G Storm team, the Central Mountain Middle School girls and for the Pennsylvania ODP program. She also enjoys guest playing with teams from Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland whenever she has free time.

Serafini trains and plays soccer year round, along with seasons of volleyball, basketball and track and field. She is always busy doing something, but she continuously works hard to improve her soccer skills with the goal of someday playing in college.

Her dream is to represent the USWNT and play for a World Cup or the Olympics. With new All American Soccer Youth events and locations announced for 2025, Serafini is already planning her next adventure.