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Finland next for Cuba
Former Cardinal Mooney and Pitt soccer standout is relocating to Scandinavia
By Ryan Buck
POLAND
Unwavering confidence has always been the hallmark of Ashley Cuba, a former soccer standout at Cardinal Mooney and the University of Pittsburgh.
Wherever her career has taken her, records have fallen. In high school, Cuba scored 87 goals and recorded 65 career assists in four regular seasons. Three district championships and a regional final appearance for her team followed.
Her accolades were plenty: three-time district Player of the Year; two-time National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-American; and 2008 Ohio Division II Player of the Year.
It was more of the same at Pitt, where Cuba, who graduated with an anthropology degree in 2013, is a fixture in the record book. She soared past the program’s career records in goals (23), hat tricks (three), and game winners (nine) and Big East Conference honors ensued.
A new challenge awaits the 24-year-old Cuba with Kokkola Sutis 10 of Kokkola, Finland. The club competes in Finland’s top women’s league and, for a woman who has never left North America, presents a profound opportunity.
“It’s a great chance to further my career,” said Cuba, who was visiting her family before embarking for Finland.
New faces, a new club and teammates whose names any American would struggle to pronounce do not faze her.
“Soccer is like an every day thing for me,” Cuba said. “It’s like brushing my teeth. I’m used to playing all the time, I’m used to being around new people, I’m used to not even knowing who they are, but being able to step on the field and work together with them.
“It’s all for the love of the game and not really for the money or the publicity. It’s more for just the game.”
Her expectations have not changed.
“I never knew, going into Cardinal Mooney, that I would [someday] be an All-American,” Cuba said. “I just wanted to play. Going into college it was the same exact thing. I never thought I would be the all-time leading scorer. I just wanted to play.
“I established a name for myself and I’m very grateful for that and everyone who’s helped me along the way,” Cuba said. “Going to Finland, I just want to play. I just want to put myself out there for the future and maybe even another team in a higher league or another country. I don’t know, but right now it’s just to play.”
Cuba, who lives and works in Pittsburgh, has been training to prolong her career. Daily gym sessions at the school’s training center complement skills training and punishing runs.
One three-mile run while on a visit home, however, was more uplifting. Admiring younger brother, Sonny Rodriguez, an aspiring basketball player, decided to join her and has mirrored his sister’s work ethic.
“It’s competition,” Sonny said. “She’s teaching me to work really hard. I guess that’s the reason [I want to run with her.]”
The 13 year-old Holy Family student not only kept up with his big sister, but pushed her.
“When you see someone else be really good, you want to try your best and be better than that person,” said Sonny, short for Santino. “All [of Ashley’s games] I went to, I always saw her try her best and work hard.”
Sonny’s work ethic — he plays and trains basketball year-round and mixes in time in the weight room — is elevating his own pursuits.
The 5-foot-6 seventh-grader, who is known in their Poland neighborhood to shoot baskets outside throughout the winter, won the local and regional Knights of Columbus free throw contests. He will compete in the final at Ohio State University.
“When the game is on the line or even if it’s not, I just want the ball in my hands,” Sonny said.
Ashley, the oldest of four including younger sisters Brittany and Danielle, says she will especially miss Sonny, but knows he has his own bright future.
“I try to encourage him to go outside and work on his ballhandling, like I wish I would have done that and I wish I would have put more time into that,” she said.