Matt Finders is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Metro Tech High School for AZPreps365.com 

How can you not be romantic about soccer? 

Even though it’s a simple game that involves kicking a leather ball into a goal, soccer is a sport that brings people together.  

Not only players and teams as well as their fans and communities, but it can also bring together two high school students who had no idea that such a game could help them fall for each other. 

For Erika Parra, the sport of soccer has done exactly that. On top of helping her to find love and start a family, soccer has been a part of her life for every step of the way. 

Growing up in Mexico, Parra was introduced to the sport at a very young age by her father, Andres Parra. 

Being one of three daughters, Parra and her sisters were forced to play youth soccer throughout their childhood whether they liked it or not. 

“My dad used to play soccer and he always had us in soccer teams,” Parra said. “At the beginning it was not something that we liked, but it was the only thing we grew up with.” 

Eventually, however, she began to flourish on the field, helping her to enjoy the sport more and more as time went on. 

Entering what became her sophomore year in high school, Parra and her family moved to the United States where she would go on to attend Camelback High School in Phoenix, Ariz. 

But, coming straight from Mexico, she and her family initially struggled with the transition. 

“It was hard, we didn’t really speak any English at all,” Parra said. “Academically we were not behind it was just the language.” 

Though the language barrier was not easy to hurdle at first, one thing she did find solace in was the soccer pitch.  

Parra played for the Camelback girls’ soccer team for the remaining three years of her high school experience where she also went on to meet her future husband, Miguel Garfio, too.  

After graduating from Camelback High School, Parra went to Phoenix College to continue her playing career and received her associate degree. But, after her soccer career on the field was over, she still felt she had more to offer the game. 

Parra transferred to Arizona State University where she double majored in mathematics and secondary education before receiving a master’s degree in bilingual education.  

Knowing she had a love for math and teaching, she used both skills to land a job as a teacher at Metro Tech High School shortly thereafter.  

After teaching algebra and geometry for four years at Metro Tech, the school started its own girls’ soccer team in 2014 and Parra became the head coach and made her husband, Garfio, her assistant.  

“Finding someone that has the same goals and interests in a group of people is rare,” Garfio said. "But I’m rewarded with every minute we spend working with the kids on the field.” 

Garfio also played soccer at Camelback High School and later became a club soccer coach of FCDA in Arizona as well. 

In the two years as head coach and assistant coach of the Metro Tech girls’ soccer team, Parra and Garfio led them to back-to-back CAA regional titles and conference championships before Metro Tech would later be promoted to the Arizona Interscholastic Association in 2016. 

Following the promotion, Parra and Garfio chose to take the opportunity to coach the boys’ team moving forward. 

Now finishing their eighth season within the AIA, Metro Tech has recorded four winning seasons and three regional titles. 

As a head coach, teacher and mentor, Parra not only commands the respect and admiration of her peers, but also her players as well. 

“Coach Parra is always there for us,” captain Luis Hernandez Parra said. “She helps us improve and create a family as teammates.” 

As Parra continues her journey breaking barriers and inspiring others, the game of soccer remains with her every step of the way.