SAN FRANCISCO – Playing two and a half hours north of Stockholm, former University of San Francisco women's soccer player
Jessica Nakae has adjusted well to playing soccer abroad. The 2017 graduate joined Kvarnsvedens IK in February, and shared her experience of playing international soccer.
The former midfielder, who played her final season in 2016, finished her career on the Hilltop as the record holder for games played. She scored seven career goals and was a four-time All-WCC honoree. In her senior season, she tallied seven points on two goals with three assists. Both her goals were game-winning goals.
Kvarnsvedens IK is a member of the second highest league in Sweden. She and her squad are currently sitting in fourth at 5-1-2, but starting to come together as a team. With a combination of native Swedish and international players, it has taken some time to gel as a squad.
Southern California native Nakae had to make a huge adjustment right off the plane.
"It has been a great experience so far" said Nakae. "When I first arrived, it was in the middle of the worst winter Sweden had experienced in 10 years. So, I was practicing in the snow, which was a totally new experience for me."
Nakae, who has played and started all eight matches for the squad, went on to say that she is also learning to play a different style of soccer than she is used to.
"Their style of play is different than USF," she said. "So, it took a while for me to get used to what we were trying to accomplish. We tend to play a more disciplined style of soccer, staying with the formation and the game plan."
The competition has been part of the fun, she says. Kvarnsvedens IK, a member of the second league, has played against teams in the top league and the goal for Nakae's squad is to finish first or second in league standings to move up into the top division. To that end, Nakae and her squad have won the last two matches.
The former Don is signed through the season, which runs through October. Following the season, she hasn't committed to anything--she's just enjoying the experience of playing and traveling in a beautiful country and watching the team come together.
