All students want to achieve big goals. But if they’re shooting against Cal High senior Layla Armas, get ready for a big deflection.
Armas is a goalkeeper for the semi-professional soccer team the Oakland Soul, and last year she was the youngest player on the team.
Luckily for Grizzly sports fans, Armas also has been on the Cal women’s varsity soccer team since her freshman year.
“She’s such a leader on and off the field,” junior teammate Kayla Villarde said. “Layla is probably the most humble person I’ve ever met.”
That’s pretty amazing considering some of her accomplishments.
As a captain of the NorCal Premier PDP (Player Development Program) in 2022, Armas attended the Youth World Cup in Sweden and helped her team take home the gold.
Even with 7,000 spectators in attendance, Armas didn’t let the pressure disturb her performance.
“It was super, super fun,” she said. “We got the Puma trophy, and it was just a great experience because we got to play teams from all around [the world].”
Armas also committed to UCLA with a full ride next year to continue her soccer journey as a goalkeeper for the Bruins.
“When I get there, I’ll be getting to play with really amazing athletes,” Armas said. “That’s what I’m most excited about.”
Cal varsity coach Nina Cefalo has watched Armas display her amazing skills over the years and has been in awe at times.
“In the San Ramon game, she was in a flow state,” Cefalo said. “She was doing so well she didn’t even have to think. It was just go go go.”
On Armas’s technique, Cefalo adds, “How she kicks the ball [and] when she kicks the ball has gotten so much more precise so fast.”
Both coaches and teammates talk of her standout talent.
Villarde, a midfielder who has known Armas for more than eight years, said Cal’s team has endured a lot of change since last season when the Grizzlies reached the NCS semifinals.
Cal lost in the NCS championship game in 2022.
With only nine of 22 players returning from last season, the team has been forced to make adjustments.
“That was a little hard in the beginning because [for] our first couple games we didn’t know each other that well, and it’s obviously a team sport,” Villarde said.
But that was yet another obstacle that proved to be no match for Armas and the team.
Armas’ deep knowledge of the game paired with the team’s grit built a culture of confidence and unity.
“This year we [are] bonded closer as a team, which is great,” Villarde said.
A natural leader, people are drawn to Armas’ welcoming personality.
“She’s not trying to be the leader at all,” Cefalo said, “but people are going to follow what she does [because] she has an aura that you just want to be around.”
Fighting to win the game is part of the experience for varsity senior varsity player Anjali Ahuja, who plays for Cal.
“The reason we [almost] won NCS is because she saved two penalty kicks,” Ahuja said. “Those are really, really hard to save.”
Especially when all eyes are on Armas when she’s in goal.
“There’s a lot of pressure,” Armas said. “I know everybody has pressure on them, but as a goalkeeper, you can’t really make mistakes.”
This creates a real challenge.
“It’s so mentally draining,” Armas said of the position. “You have to have a good mindset, a positive mindset especially.”
To prepare for a game, Armas has a specific ritual she follows.
“I am superstitious, so if I have a hairstyle and I play bad, then I’ll change it [for] the next game,” Armas said. “If I play bad in a certain color, because we have a minimum of two colors we [can] wear, then I just won’t wear that color the next day.”
But at the end of the day, Armas doesn’t let the pressure get to her, on or off the field.
“It’s always a good time with her,” Villarde said.
Armas looks up to Angelina Anderson who plays on Angel City FC, a professional women’s soccer team based in Los Angeles. Anderson used to play at Mustang Soccer Club in Danville, just like Armas.
“She’s really awesome,” Armas said. “I played with her a few times, which is really nice. She’s a good person and a great player, which makes her amazing.”
