Sarina Bolden, the Santa Clara-born soccer star, recently scored the first-ever goal for the Philippines in the Women's World Cup, marking a historic moment in sports according to Santa Clara New. Bolden, who played for youth clubs in Santa Clara, guided the Philippines to a 1-0 victory over New Zealand with her 24th-minute goal, further catapulting her team into the spotlight.

As reported by SFGate, the 27-year-old Bay Area native has experienced a fascinating international journey, starting from representing American academies to joining the Philippines national team in 2018. Bolden's soccer career has taken her all over the world, with professional stints in Sweden, Taiwan, the United States, Japan, and Australia.

Beyond her World Cup contribution, Bolden has been a star for the Philippine national team since her debut. In her very senior international debut with the Philippines in 2018, she scored the game-winning goal against Jordan in the AFC Women's Asian Cup. Bolden continued to impact more games for her country, part of the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup match against Taiwan, where she scored the last kick in a penalty shootout that earned the Philippines a spot in the 2023 Women's World Cup.

Fans and supporters have poured out their enthusiasm and pride towards Bolden's achievements. While her journey began in Santa Clara, playing for both Santa Clara-based MVLA Mercury Black '96 and DeAnza Force '95, her experience and skill as an athlete have come a long way, as she noted in a conversation with CBS News San Francisco: "Just getting to experience all those kinds of different styles, I think it's made me into the soccer player that I am today." Celebrating the glory of her historic moment on perhaps the global soccer stage, Bolden has undoubtedly made her Bay Area supporters proud and brought honor to her roots.