BERKS UNITED FC
SURGE
2012 GIRLS
Gina Cardenas
2012 Girls Head Coach
Specialized Goalkeeping Coach
Coach Gina is ordinally from the Seattle, Washington area and played high school soccer at Auburn Riverside High School. During her high school career, she was awarded 4A First team, all-league and all-state honors as a goalkeeper. Gina was also part of the Washington Premier FC who won state cup in 2010 and then went onto play 4 years for Saint Martin's University and then for one years at NWPL team Seattle Stars. Now in Pennsylvania Gina has coaching experience with the Lehigh Valley ODP program as their goalkeeping coach and also coaches at the Reading Recreation Commission as part of their grassroots youth program U6-U14. Currently Gina has her US Soccer Grassroots coaching license and is working toward obtaining her D license.
Gina's coaching philosophy is that communication is key for success. Never put down a teammate, encourage each other to be better, and get after each other when you need to be pushed. I will let you know when you make a mistake, but I will help you to correct it and always encourage you to try again. Nobody is perfect but if you don't try you'll never know if you can do it.
Gina now lives in Mount Penn with her wife Yany and stepson Marcus as well as their dog Appa and three cats Hunny, Pabu, and Selina.
Megan Welsh
2012 Girls Asst. Coach
Coach Megan has been playing soccer since the age of 6 and has been a goalkeeper since she can remember. She grew up playing for Exeter Rec program all the way until Junior High level and high school. Attending Exeter High School, she played for the girl's soccer team and club Reading Berks United. Megan's plans of playing in college were put on hold when she had her first daughter shortly after graduating high school. That's where her coaching journey began. Coach Megan now sits on the board for Mifflin FC as well as coaching many of the Rec teams. She also helps run clinics for the Mifflin FC and is a staff coach for our clubs Tots soccer program, Next Gen clinics, and our goalkeeper clinics.
Her coaching philosophy is about communication and positivity. She believes being coachable and having a good work ethic will take many players to the next level. Having open communication gives her the ability to correct and encourage players in a positive, caring way so they aren't afraid to step out of their comfort zone and try new things!
Megan lives in Mohnton with her husband and their 9 children. In her off time you can find her on the sideline of her kids sporting events. She says she will always be her kids biggest supporter! She also enjoys being at her camp site in DE anytime they can get a free weekend!
Coaching Quote "The only thing stopping a player from unlocking their next level, is their comfort zone, so feel that discomfort and lean into it"!