Emily “Emjae” Soriano started playing club soccer when she was seven, joining San Diego Surf in 2021 from Carlsbad City SC. Emjae is a team co-captain and center back for the SD Surf ECNL team. Growing up, Emjae played attacking mid and center forward. She also played many other sports including club basketball, flag football, volleyball, and track and field. As a center back, Emjae’s playing style consists of high IQ and decision making due to her deep knowledge of the SD Surf style of play. She thrives in playing the best forwards with her confidence in her 1v1 ability as well as the speed to chase down opponents. She studies film meticulously, anticipating and disrupting passes being played to the attacking players. Her calm over the ball dictates the tempo of the game with possession until an opening is created for her team to attack. Emjae is an ODP, USYNT, and Philippine National Team U17 invitee and ranked in Prep Soccer and TDS. She is also assistant coach for the SD Surf 2012 ECNL girls’ team, mentoring the back line and volunteers for Football for Her, a non-profit organization that supports youth participants reaching their goals regardless of their economic standing. 

Outside of soccer, she likes to spend time with her sister Erin (17) and Jacob (14), dogs Romeo and Charlie, and thrifts with her friends.