Guarding Goals, Protecting Systems: Embry-Riddle Soccer Star Excels in Cybersecurity Natalia Sepulveda (’26) is known for her composure, discipline and ability to lead on the soccer field. As a defender and team leader for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Prescott women’s soccer team, she protects her teammates with the same vigilance and foresight she brings to her studies in Cyber Intelligence and Security. Together, those traits have defined a comeback story rooted in resilience, purpose and belief. Sepulveda is pursuing a Master of Science in Cyber Intelligence and Security. In January 2026, she was named a first-team All-American by the United Soccer Coaches Association, helping lead Embry-Riddle to a national semifinal run and marking a historic milestone for the program. A Journey Shaped by Resilience Her path to that moment was anything but straightforward. A first-generation college graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, Sepulveda always knew she wanted to continue her education. With remaining athletic eligibility, she saw graduate school as both a second chance in soccer and a strategic step forward. Sepulveda’s journey to Prescott included stops at other universities, where she competed at the Division I level and earned an invitation to train with the Mexico U-21 Women’s National Team. But her experience later took a difficult turn. She faced challenges that led to self-doubt and a loss of passion for the sport she had played since age 10. She stepped away from soccer, unsure if she would ever return. But the feeling that her story was unfinished stayed with her. A native of Tucson, Arizona, Sepulveda grew up playing soccer alongside athletes who chose Embry-Riddle, though she initially looked elsewhere while exploring her academic path. “Something in my gut told me Embry-Riddle would be the perfect fit for soccer and school,” she said. When Embry-Riddle Head Coach