Before every at-bat, Kathy Garcia-Soto traces a small smiley face in the dirt.

It’s a ritual she’s kept since childhood – a reminder softball is supposed to be fun. 

Her cleats feature stickers of the same joyous faces, reflecting the little bursts of personality on the field.

Garcia-Soto’s love of the game stems from when she was just five years old, when she first picked up the bat. 

The junior infielder and two-time conference Defensive Player of the Year is once again in strong contention for the award this season.

She continues to deliver clutch plays for the Bulls, with multiple appearances on SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays of the Week.

But, for the 21-year-old, the love of the game has never wavered.

“I like to have fun,” Garcia-Soto said. “I try not to take things too seriously. You play your best when you’re loose.”

That balance of joy and intensity has defined her journey.

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Growing up in Puerto Rico, she wasn’t just another kid learning the game – she was the daughter of an Olympian. 

Her mother, Eve Soto, played for Puerto Rico’s 1996 team – the only time the team has made it to the Olympics in softball.

While her mother never pressured her into softball, the sport was always present in her life.

“I played all kinds of sports—softball, soccer, gymnastics, you name it,” Garcia-Soto said. “But something about softball always felt different. I just loved it.”

By the time she started playing softball, she knew she wanted to represent Puerto Rico, just like her mother had.

“She would tell me stories about it,” Garcia-Soto said. “The experiences she had, having to share a room with your team and the little stuff like that. [The] experience is like nothing, like no other.”

Garcia-Soto swings at a pitch in USF’s 8-0 loss to UF. ORACLE PHOTO / CAMILLE GRALL

Softball became her obsession.

If her teammates took 50 swings, she took 100. If they ran sprints, she stayed after for extra conditioning. 

Her relentless drive caught the attention of USF’s coaching staff early on. By eighth grade, she was already on college radars. 

USF assistant coach Karla Claudio Rivera saw it when she joined the team, too.

“I’ve come out to the field to do my own training, just thinking that there’s nobody at the field doing anything, and there’s Kathy, on the field doing base running,” she said.

Garcia-Soto said that work ethic has made her a leader. 

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As a freshman, she observed and learned. Now, she’s the one keeping spirits high and teammates focused.

“She keeps everyone balanced,” Rivera said. “She knows when to be serious and when to lighten the mood. That’s rare.”

But Garcia-Soto’s story extends beyond USF. Representing Puerto Rico on the international stage is more than an honor—it’s part of who she is.

Her connection with Rivera runs even deeper, as Rivera not only coaches her at USF but also plays alongside her on the Puerto Rican national team.

“She knows the line,” Rivera said. “At USF, I’m her coach. With Puerto Rico, we’re teammates. And when we put on that jersey, it’s bigger than both of us.”

One of Garcia-Soto’s proudest moments came in 2023, when she helped Puerto Rico win gold at the Central American Games. 

Later that year, she added a silver medal at the Pan American Games in Chile.

“That was surreal,” Garcia-Soto said. “Winning for Puerto Rico, feeling that pride – it’s something you can’t describe.”

She’s traveled the world with the national team – Colombia, Chile, El Salvador and Spain.

Even though she’s played in tournaments across the U.S., she said there’s nothing quite like competing internationally.

 “It’s hard to compare,” she said. “But playing for Puerto Rico – it just means everything.”

Garcia-Soto slides home in USF’s 6-1 win over Louisville. ORACLE PHOTO / CAMILLE GRALL

Playing for Puerto Rico has given Garcia-Soto a feeling she compares to her team at USF.

“Puerto Rico always has my back,” she said. “It’s like a family. It’s the same at USF. That’s what makes playing here so special.”

Her time on the national team has shaped her role for the Bulls. 

With Puerto Rico, she’s the young player learning from veterans. In South Florida, she’s the one offering guidance.

“I’ve learned so much from playing with older players,” she said. “Now, I try to be that person for my teammates here.”

Through it all, she’s never stopped pushing herself. 

Whether it’s leading USF to another postseason run or chasing more international medals, she’s still writing her story. 

But one thing is certain – she doesn’t wait for anyone to push her. She never has.