Photo by Walt Beazley, Gunnar Rathbun, Sadie Rucker, Nathan DeSutter
Sierra Cota-Yarde is a goalkeeper for the University of Arkansas Women’s Soccer Team. Last season, she played 13 minutes in goal against Arkansas State on Aug. 28, giving up one goal and appeared in two penalty shootouts, the SEC Tournament quarterfinals against Vanderbilt on Nov. 1 and the NCAA Sweet 16 match versus Memphis on Nov. 20, netting both of her attempts. Before Arkansas, Sierra played in seven matches for the Prairie View A&M Panthers where she notched three shutouts and assisted in one for the Panthers in 2021.
How did you, born in Portugal, end up playing soccer at the University of Arkansas?
I was born and raised in Toronto, Canada but my mom, Cidalia Cota, was born in Portugal on a tiny island called Terceira. She immigrated to Toronto with her mother, father, grandmother and five siblings when she was four years old. Since she was born there, I was granted access to Portuguese citizenship which allowed me to get a Portuguese passport and eventually have the opportunity to train with the Portuguese National Team. I started off my college soccer career at Prairie View A & M University and when I decided to enter the transfer portal, I knew I wanted to go to a big Power 5 school that could give me the training and exposure I needed to progress. After talking to head coach, Colby Hale, and my goalkeeper coach, Jon Harvey, I felt like Arkansas would be the perfect program to push me outside of my comfort and give me an opportunity to grow and develop as a soccer player and a person.
Terceira lies in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean about 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) off Portugal’s coast, the Azores archipelago
Is there more pressure playing for the Razorbacks or for Portugal? Or, is it just a different type of pressure?
HAHAHA this is a tough one, but I would say there is more pressure playing for Portugal, as you are playing for a nation against some of the most challenging competition in the world.
What are you most enjoying living in Fayetteville? What do you miss the most – your saudades – from other places you’ve lived?
The things I enjoy most about living in Fayetteville are the climate, I love the heat and the sun, the beautiful landscape, and the overall love for the Arkansas Razorbacks. From Portugal I miss the food, specifically the fish. Finally, from Toronto, I miss my family and the multiculturalism that comes with living in such a diverse city.
Portuguese football player Jéssica Silva at the Palácio de Belém in February 2023
In the Portuguese team, Jéssica Silva has been called the “Women’s Cristiano Ronaldo.” What has been like being a teammate with this outstanding player?
Training with Jessica and the rest of the team was such an incredible experience which allowed me to learn and grow on what felt like a professional level. Herself and the rest of my teammates have so much experience and were so willing to teach me things that could improve my game. Any time that I can play with such outstanding talent is such a blessing as it is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Spain was not a traditional women’s soccer power until recently, having invested a great deal into the women’s program, and are now world champions. Has Portugal been similarly investing in its women’s team, and, if not, might Spain serve as a type of model?
Portugal has been investing in its women’s program and it shows as the team has just recently made its first world cup, first nation’s league, and received the highest ranking in the history of the National team. Women’s soccer in general has been making leaps and strides in the right direction but there is still a long way to go before we reach the same level of respect and exposure as Men’s soccer is granted.