Two Irving ISD student-athlete alumni are proving that hard work, determination and community support can take dreams to the professional stage. Ana Sofia Cedeño, a 2024 graduate of MacArthur High School, and Olivia Peña, a 2021 graduate of Nimitz High School, have each turned their lifelong love of soccer into successful professional careers.
Cedeño moved from Panama to the U.S. with her family in 2017 and started playing recreational soccer. She later joined the Houston Dash Youth Teams, played for Solar SC in Dallas and represented MacArthur High School. Her skills caught the eye of college coaches across the country, leading her to commit to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as a junior in high school. She also trained with professional clubs like the Houston Dash, Kansas City Current and Seattle Reign in the National Women’s Soccer League.
Ana Sofia Cedeño at the Halifax Tides FC vs Vancouver Rise FC Game
Cedeño graduated a semester early in December 2024, then took her talents to compete on the national stage at UCLA. On August 9, 2025, she reached a significant milestone by signing her first professional contract with the Halifax Tides in the Canadian National Soccer League.
Reflecting on her time in Irving ISD, Cedeño credits her experience with shaping not just her athletic skills but also her character. “Being a student-athlete at MacArthur taught me how to be a better person off the field,” she says. “It helped me realize that things that happen on the field shouldn’t affect me or my connections off the field.”
As she begins her first year as a professional athlete, Cedeño remains ambitious. She sets her sights on playing for the U.S. Women’s National Team and competing in the prestigious Champions League in Europe, a testament to the potential for success that Irving ISD nurtures in its student-athletes.
For Cedeño, every step of her journey has been fueled by faith and family. “It feels unreal to think about where I am now compared to a few years ago. God has given me these opportunities, and my parents have been such a huge part of my career, making sacrifices every day so I can do what I love,” she says. Later this month, Cedeño will join the U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team training camp in Kansas City — a significant step toward her goal of one day playing for the senior national team.
Peña shares a similar story of dedication and success. She began playing soccer at just 3 years old with the Irving Soccer Association on a team called the Pink Tornadoes, coached by her father and other parents. She later joined the select teams Dallas Texans and eventually Solar SC, where she spent most of her youth career. Her 2003 Solar team was highly competitive, with every player earning a spot at a Division I program and several, like Peña, continuing to the professional level. During her time with Solar, she won two national championships and numerous tournament titles across the country.
Peña has also represented the United States on the national stage, earning call-ups to the U.S. National Team during junior high at Bowie and throughout her time at Nimitz. In 2017, she competed internationally in Germany.
In eighth grade, Peña committed to Texas Christian University (TCU), where she went on to excel both academically and athletically. During her collegiate career, she helped lead TCU to two Big 12 Conference titles and one Big 12 Tournament title. Her individual accolades include earning a spot on the Big 12 Freshman Team in 2021, multiple All-Big 12 honors and being named the 2024 Big 12 Midfielder of the Year.
Olivia Peña at playing soccer
After earning her bachelor’s degree in economics with a minor in social work, Peña became the first in her family to graduate from college. This past September, she signed her first professional contract with the North Carolina Courage of the National Women’s Soccer League.
Peña takes great pride in her Irving roots and credits her time in Irving ISD with shaping her mindset as both an athlete and individual. “I’m very proud of where I come from because I feel like being an Irving ISD student taught me to always be humble and grateful,” she says. “I always felt I had to represent my city and prove that Irving could produce top-tier student-athletes.”
As she begins her professional career, Peña looks forward to continuing to grow and inspire others. “I’m still getting used to the fact that I’m a professional soccer player now,” she says. “It’s definitely a dream come true. I’ll continue to represent all of my past coaches, clubs, teams, schools and the city of Irving.”
Together, Cedeño and Peña embody the strength and spirit of Irving ISD student-athletes. Their journeys from local fields to the professional arena serve as an inspiration to students across the district, showing that with passion, discipline and support, success knows no boundaries.
