Cristina Roque Bio
Cristina Isabel Roque is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Racing Louisville FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Born in the mainland United States, she represents the Puerto Rico national team internationally. She played college soccer for the Florida State Seminoles, where she won the 2021 and 2023 NCAA national championships. Standing at 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in), Roque wears jersey number 33 for her current club and is widely regarded as one of the top young goalkeepers developed in the American college system.
Early Life and Background
Cristina Isabel Roque was born on November 6, 2001, in Winter Garden, Florida. She was raised in central Florida and attended West Orange High School, where she developed her early goalkeeping skills. Her father was born in Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico, which gives her the heritage that allows her to represent Puerto Rico at the international level. Growing up in a soccer-supportive household, she combined her Florida roots with her Puerto Rican family ties to shape her dual identity as an athlete.
Before her college career, Roque spent time with the youth soccer system in Florida. She was listed with Florida Krush from 2018 to 2019, gaining competitive experience as a young goalkeeper. This period helped her prepare for the demanding schedule of top-level college soccer and built the foundation for her future national championship success at Florida State University.
Path to Professional Soccer
Roque joined the Florida State Seminoles in 2020 and quickly became part of one of the strongest programs in NCAA Division I women’s soccer. During her freshman year, she helped lead Florida State to the national title game in a pandemic-shortened season, although the Seminoles lost to Santa Clara on penalties. The following year, she faced a similar penalty shootout situation and saved two of BYU’s attempts to deliver the 2021 national championship to Florida State.
Throughout her college career, she shared regular-season duties with goalkeeper Mia Justus before taking full control of the position. In 2023, she played every match of Florida State’s undefeated national championship season, cementing her status as a top professional prospect. She finished her college career with 59 wins, 6 draws, and 2 losses in 67 appearances, recording 36 shutouts. Her individual accolades included three All-Atlantic Coast Conference selections, two United Soccer Coaches third-team All-American honors, and the ACC Goalkeeper of the Year award in 2022. During her time at Florida State, she also signed a name, image, and likeness (NIL) deal with Advantage Goalkeeping, which produced custom goalkeeper gloves for women featuring her logo.
Cristina Roque Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
Roque began her organized senior career with Florida Krush, a club team based in Florida that competes in women’s soccer development leagues. From 2018 to 2019, she sharpened her technique and tactical awareness as a goalkeeper, competing against experienced players in regional competition. This early exposure to high-level play helped her transition smoothly into the college game at Florida State University.
Alongside her club experience, Roque represented Puerto Rico at the youth international level. In 2018, she appeared for the Puerto Rico U17 team, and in 2020, she joined the Puerto Rico U20 squad. These international caps gave her valuable experience on a broader stage and strengthened her connection to her family’s Puerto Rican heritage.
Florida State Breakthrough (2020–2023)
Roque’s four seasons with the Florida State Seminoles from 2020 to 2023 defined her as a championship-winning goalkeeper. After her heartbreaking penalty loss in her freshman year, she returned the next season and saved two penalties against BYU to win the 2021 national title. Her redemption story made her a key figure in the Seminoles’ dynasty of national championship runs.
As a sophomore and junior, she shared duties in goal with Mia Justus, learning how to manage a competitive rotation. In her senior season, she became the undisputed starter, playing every match of an undefeated 2023 campaign that produced another national championship. By the time she left Florida State, she had earned a reputation as a reliable shot-stopper, a penalty specialist, and a leader in the locker room.
Utah Royals Era (2024–2025)
Roque entered professional soccer when she was drafted by the expansion Utah Royals 33rd overall in the third round of the 2024 NWSL Draft. She signed a one-year contract with an option to extend an additional year, joining the club as a promising young goalkeeper behind veteran Mandy Haught. As a rookie, she primarily served as a backup while learning the pace and physicality of the professional game.
Her NWSL debut came on July 20, 2024, against the Seattle Reign in the first round of the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup. Later that season, on September 14, she made her first regular-season appearance, starting in a 1–0 win against Racing Louisville. These limited but meaningful minutes prepared her for a larger role and helped her showcase her shot-stopping ability to league observers.
Racing Louisville Era (2025–Present)
On June 4, 2025, Roque was traded to Racing Louisville FC in exchange for $50,000 in allocation money. Shortly after the move, she signed a new contract that would keep her with the club through 2026, signaling the organization’s confidence in her long-term potential. The trade marked a fresh start for the young goalkeeper, who was eager to claim a starting role in a competitive NWSL environment.
On January 13, 2026, Louisville sent Roque out on loan to USL Super League club Sporting JAX through May 2026, providing her with regular minutes at a professional level. Although she did not make any appearances for Sporting JAX during her half-season loan stint, the move was designed to keep her match-fit and continue her development. She returned to Racing Louisville with additional experience and renewed motivation to compete for the starting goalkeeper position.
Notable Events and Milestones
Roque’s signature moment came during the 2021 NCAA championship, when she saved two penalty attempts against BYU to deliver a national title to Florida State. She followed that performance with an undefeated 2023 season in which she started every match. Her NWSL debut on July 20, 2024, and her first regular-season start on September 14, 2024, also stand as important milestones in her transition to the professional ranks.
Cristina Roque Career Wins
Cristina Roque’s career is highlighted by two NCAA national championships with the Florida State Seminoles in 2021 and 2023, along with an extensive list of personal accolades earned at the college level. Across her time at Florida State, she recorded 59 wins, 6 draws, and 2 losses in 67 appearances, with 36 shutouts that established her among the top goalkeepers in program history. Her first professional regular-season win came on September 14, 2024, when she started in goal for the Utah Royals in a 1–0 victory over Racing Louisville.
College Highlights
Roque’s college résumé includes two NCAA national titles and three All-Atlantic Coast Conference selections, one of which was a first-team nod. She was also a two-time United Soccer Coaches third-team All-American and was named the ACC Goalkeeper of the Year in 2022. Her most recent college triumph was the 2023 national championship, earned during an undefeated season in which she started every game for the Seminoles.
Other Wins & Performances
Before college, Roque competed with Florida Krush from 2018 to 2019, gaining valuable experience in regional club competition. Internationally, she has represented Puerto Rico at the U17, U20, and senior levels, contributing to the growth of women’s soccer on the island.
Cristina Roque Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Cristina Roque comes from a family with strong Puerto Rican roots. Her father was born in Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico, which provided her with the heritage required to represent Puerto Rico at the international level. She was raised in Winter Garden, Florida, where she grew up balancing her American upbringing with her family’s island traditions.
Personal Life
Roque attended West Orange High School in Florida before continuing her academic and athletic career at Florida State University, where she studied while competing for the Seminoles. Her NIL partnership with Advantage Goalkeeping highlighted her entrepreneurial side and her commitment to growing opportunities for women in goalkeeping. She continues to build her professional career in the NWSL while proudly representing Puerto Rico on the international stage.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NWSL season marked a turning point for Cristina Roque, who began the year with the Utah Royals before being traded to Racing Louisville FC on June 4, 2025, in exchange for $50,000 in allocation money. The midseason move gave her a fresh opportunity to compete for minutes in goal and showcase the development she had gained during her rookie year. Her new contract, signed shortly after the trade, committed her to Louisville through 2026, providing long-term stability as she adjusted to her new club.
With Racing Louisville, Roque aimed to push for a larger role within the goalkeeping group and contribute to the team’s push up the NWSL standings. Her penalty-saving pedigree, demonstrated repeatedly at Florida State, made her an attractive asset for a club seeking late-game composure. The trade also reflected Louisville’s belief that her trajectory pointed toward becoming a long-term starter in the league.
Looking ahead, Roque’s outlook for the remainder of the 2025 season and into 2026 remained promising, with the club investing in her development through the loan to Sporting JAX. Although she did not make any appearances during her half-season loan stint, the experience was designed to keep her sharp for her return to Louisville. Her combination of championship experience, technical skill, and international pedigree positioned her as a key piece of Racing Louisville’s goalkeeping future.