Katherine Bean-Rosario, one of the key members of Bermuda’s Under-20 women’s football team, has been chosen for the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I Women's Soccer All-American Third Team.

Bean-Rosario’s recognition follows a stellar debut season for Monroe University. Competing in the East District Championship, the Bermudian was the top goal scorer for the New Rochelle-based Mustangs, netting 14 goals in 12 matches. Her achievements earned her a place among the best 33 players named by the NJCAA women’s soccer committee.

According to the NJCAA’s points system, Bermuda’s rising star – who also contributed four assists in 700 minutes of action – accumulated 32 points.

“It feels great to be the only one from Monroe University to get selected out of 26 players,” the 18-year-old told The Royal Gazette. “At first, I didn’t understand what it was, but when I learnt the importance of it, I was really proud of myself because I worked hard this season.

“I know that I’ve set a standard for myself this year to emulate, so I just need to do better next year.”

Bean-Rosario, one of the players Aaron Denkins will count on in February for the Concacaf Under-20 Women’s Qualifiers in Trinidad & Tobago, had her standout performance against Mohawk Valley Community College on 31 August.

The first-year Sports Management student scored a brace and provided a hat-trick of assists in a 14-0 triumph for the Mustangs. She scored multiple goals on four occasions, ending her season – which ran from August to November – with a five-game goal streak.

“It was a great season; I scored in almost every game,” she said. “I’ve settled in well into the team under coach Ousmane Camara and I am looking forward to next season, which will be my final year before I move over to a four-year college.

“During the season, we travelled to quite a few places, like Florida, Texas, Maryland and upstate New York.”

Bean-Rosario will not return to the island for Denkins’ training camp for Bermuda’s Under-20s at the Clyde Best Centre of Excellence. Denkins is taking advantage of overseas-based players spending time with their families to hold sessions in preparation for the 2026 Fifa Under-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers in Poland.

“I’ll be in New York over the Christmas period,” Bean-Rosario said. “I won’t be in Bermuda for the Under-20 camp, but I’m committed to that trip and looking forward to representing my country in Trinidad.”

Previously presented with a great opportunity to develop her cricket when playing for the Leeward Islands women’s team at the West Indies Rising Stars Women's Under-19 Championship in Trinidad, Bean-Rosario has put her cricket career on hold.

“There’s no college cricket in the US, so I’ve not played cricket since I arrived here,” she added. “I’ll probably play cricket in April.”