Monica Gonzalez
Women’s Soccer (Mexico) – 2004

Gonzalez’ Notre Dame Bio

Versatile player who saw time at several positions during her national team career from 1998-2009 … founding member of Mexico’s women’s national team, serving as team captain from 2003-07 and helping that nation make its first (and to date, only) appearance in Olympic competition at the 2004 Athens Games, when El Tricolor reached the quarterfinals before falling to eventual silver medalist Brazil … also was a member of Mexico’s 1999 FIFA World Cup squad that made that country’s first-ever appearance in that event.

Played professionally in the United States in the Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA) with the Boston Breakers (2002-03) … was selected as a WUSA All-Star in 2003.

Spent five seasons at Notre Dame, earning the extra year after a knee injury forced her to miss 1998 season … helped Fighting Irish reach three NCAA College Cup semifinals in 1997, 1999 and 2000, making the title game in ’00 … second Notre Dame women’s soccer player to earn All-America (second team) and Academic All-America (second team) honors in same season (2001) … combined with Vanessa Pruzinsky and Candace Chapman as first three defenders from same team named first team all-BIG EAST (’01) … key member of 2000 defense that led nation in goals-against average (0.39).

Originally from Richardson, Texas, she graduated from Notre Dame in 2001 with bachelor’s degrees in management information systems and Spanish … served as color analyst during ESPN’s coverage of 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup … currently serves as sideline reporter for ESPN’s coverage of Major League Soccer (MLS), in addition to similar roles for that network’s broadcast of the Little League World Series … now based out of Chicago, where she founded Gonzo Soccer, an academy for non-profit soccer, leadership and social academy that targets under-served youth girls from Chicago’s inner city communities.