Francis Marion University Athletics

FMU: 2-year returning starter....Conference Carolinas Fall Academic All-Conference Team 2022....Played in only 3 matches in 2021 (all starts) before season was ended by an injury....Recorded 9 shots with 5 being on target....All-Peach Belt Conference selection (second team) in 2020 season....Very impactful first season at FMU....Played all but 28 minutes of 2020 campaign....Led team in shots (21) and shots on goal (10)....Shared team lead with 2 goals and 5 points in covid-abbreviated season....Scored match-winner at GSW (3-25-21) and assisted on winning score vs Georgia College (3-1-21)....Transfer from ASA College-Miami, where she played two seasons....Really excited to add Valentina to our program.....Very experienced player.....Comes from a really good junior college program....Has played internationally in Colombia.....Will bring the creativity to the field that we are looking for....Chi Alpha Sigma national college athlete honor society....Division II ADA Academic Achievement Award 2021.....FMU Swamp Fox Athletic-Academic Honor Roll 2021 (spring, fall), 2022 (fall), 2023 (spring).

ASA: As a sophomore, tallied 13 goals (second-best in conference) and 30 points (third-best in conference).....Her freshman year, recorded a league-best 21 goals and 48 points, ranking 22nd and 26th nationally in those two categories respectively.....2-time first-team All-Region 8 selection....Produced nine match-winning scores in her two seasons with the Silver Storm.

PERSONAL:

• Born Valentina Restrepo Betancur in Medellin, Colombia
• Graduate of Institución Educativa Julio César Garcia
• Nickname is Valen

PERSONAL FAVORITES:

• As a child what you wanted to be when you grew up: Professional soccer player
• How you got your nickname: Is the abbreviation of my name
• Favorite Superhero: My mom
• Favorite Athlete: Cristiano Ronaldo
• Favorite Sports Team: Atlético de Madrid
• Favorite Movie or TV Show: Harry Potter
• Favorite Food: Mexican food or Sushi 
• Favorite Vacation Spot: I like a place that has a beach, but especially Miami Beach  
• Favorite Musical Artist: Maluma and Reik
• Favorite Thing About FMU: The soccer field
• Favorite Off-Field/court Activity: Go to the gym
• Goals for Upcoming Season: Be conference champion
• Why you first chose your sport: Because my family loves soccer, it was also something that I was passionate about from the beginning and I enjoy every moment that I play
• Biggest mental challenge in your sport: I always work on everything that has to improve, but more than anything in patience on the field
• Interesting Notes: Being on the national team of my country and playing at a Women's Soccer World Cup