SAN FRANCISCO – Continuing the work over the offseason necessary to put the best squad forward in 2023, Academy of Art women's soccer has announced Valeria Perez Rivera (Aurora, Colo./Northeastern JC) as the program's latest recruit to join ART U this Fall. 

Entering Academy of Art as a junior, Perez Rivera spent the previous two years with Northeastern Junior College where she was a mainstay in the midfield, last season playing in 14 of the 15 games for Northeastern during the Fall campaign including 11 games started. Though she did not record a point on three shots (two on goal), the Aurora, Colo. native did contribute to six shutouts from the midfield. In the year prior, Perez Rivera appeared in 14 games, including seven starts, and tallied one assist in addition to a trio of shots (two of which were on goal). 

"I chose to come to ART U because of their fashion program," Perez Rivera said. "It has always been a dream to pursue fashion, and when the opportunity came along, I had to take it. What really convinced me was that they also had a soccer program. Two of the things I love the most, all in one - it was the perfect opportunity for me."

Prior to her collegiate career, Perez Rivera graduated from Aurora Central High School in 2020 where she played on the varsity soccer team for three seasons (no season in spring 2020). Over the course of her prep career she appeared in 27 total games, which included playing in 14 during the 2017-18 campaign when she scored a career-best four goals to go with four assists for 12 points. That was followed by a year in which she scored two goals with four assists for eight points in just seven games in 2018-19 (1.1 point/game). By the end of her time at Aurora Central, Perez Rivera was named an All-State Second Team selection and a Region IX Honorable Mention. In addition to her prep career, Perez Rivera appeared with Colorado Athletic Soccer Academy Futbol Club (CASA FC), the state's only Latino-founded and led organization offering authentic, inclusive and values-driven athletic experiences for youth ages 4 to 18.

Upon her arrival at ART U, Perez Rivera will enroll in the School of Fashion Product Development with the future goal of becoming a stylist and owning her own clothing line or store. She is now the fourth member of the Fall 2023 ART U recruiting class, as she joins Kayla Hampton and Jorryn Echeverria, as well as Breanna Bernardson.