Check The Box - A Makenna Dominguez Story

When checking the boxes isn't so mundane.

Makenna Dominguez grew up in a suburb of Los Angeles, Sierra Madre. The second largest city in the United States. The 5 foot 3 inch forward may be small in stature, but she is huge in results and her accolades keep on coming. You could certainly say she conquered LA soccer by earning All-American honors issued by TopDrawerSoccer.com based on her being all-league and all-area four times. Next, she conquered the recruiting trail by earning a spot on the most storied program in women's college soccer history at North Carolina. 

This chapter was an ever-evolving challenge due to unprecedented times. You have the Covid pandemic and the cancellation of a fall season. A spring season which led to a semifinal run. An unthinkable first round exit the following season. The epic overtime loss in the national championship to her hometown team and school in UCLA. To this point, the minutes and opportunities were limited. 

In the spring of 2023, Makenna regrouped and had a good spring campaign which led her to an opportunity in the USLW summer league with the local Wake FC club starting and playing max minutes at every opportunity and being a solid contributor with other UNC teammates. However, the season ended in horrific fashion with a severe collision with opposing goal keeper, leading to a concussion that took some time to heal and become safe to play soccer again. 

Again, the UNC roster was extremely deep and a team that just continues to reload and is never short on talent. Again, minutes were limited. Fully expecting to redeem themselves in a national championship run, but they were denied again in Utah in the snow versus BYU after holding a 3-0 lead. 

What next? Several seniors were leaving, but of course one of the top recruiting classes were coming in. Have I mentioned the transfer portal yet? Oh yeah, that became "available" in her career. NIL has become prevalent. What else could pop up? Well, seniors graduated, even some that had eligibility left due to Covid, teammates galore transferred out, and underclassmen left to go pro, as did many of the prized incoming recruits. Her team was decimated with turnover and confusion, only having 12 roster players for the spring. 

Could anything else happen? YES! Makenna would receive the opportunity that every kid athlete dreams about. To represent their country on the international stage. Makenna's Hispanic heritage and citizenry led her to the international scene with El Salvador for the entire spring for the CONCACAF Gold Cup where she thrived, being a star player and playing around the world. She was playing, she was starring, and people all over loved her. 

Next...Not California, not North Carolina, not Central America, or at least that Central America. Makenna found an opportunity again, in the USLW league in Colorado playing for the Storm. Upping her training and opportunities, she joined her significant other, former UNC standout Quenzi Huerman, who joined the Colorado Springs Switchbacks of the USL Championship league to embark on his professional career. 

With the Storm, Makenna showed her versatility on the pitch by playing both sides, all sides?! Left, right, forward, back...well, not all the way back. In the championship game - yes, her team, by no coincidence, made the championship - she found herself playing in a wingback position helping former teammate, Sydney Cheesman, double up on the North Carolina Courage right wing and goal-scoring star Mia Oliaro, who also happens to be a former teammate (but will join rival Duke this fall). The game was epic in a lot of ways: Colorado controlled the first portion of the game in all facets and scoring first. However, they allowed a quick transition goal to tie the score at one. In comes an unplanned torrential downpour that delayed the game and the momentum. Off and on the weather interrupted and suddenly the literal storm was getting the best of the Storm. A 3-1 deficit seemed insurmountable but Dominguez knows all too well it's not over until it's over. A late comeback goal brought it to 3-2 but time did what time does...it expired. Another championship lost, another lead lost, to which Makenna posted on her Instagram, "If I had a nickel...."

No doubt, she'll keeping checking the boxes of dreams and accolades. She'll keep pounding on the door and we are without a doubt that it will open for her and her teammates one day. And if you happen to be watching her play, Check the Box, she's surely ready to pounce and punch a ball in the back of the net.