Naya Cardoza
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 2 November 2004 | ||
| Place of birth | Ajax, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Halifax Tides FC | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Pickering FC | |||
| Woodbridge Strikers | |||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2025 | Brown Bears | 65 | (13) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017–2019 | Durham United FA | 4 | (1) |
| 2021 | Woodbridge Strikers | 2 | (2) |
| 2023–2024 | Vaughan Azzurri | 9 | (2) |
| 2024 | → Vaughan Azzurri B | 1 | (1) |
| 2025 | Pickering FC | 8 | (7) |
| 2026– | Halifax Tides FC | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2024– | Jamaica | 8 | (1) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 31 December 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of June 29, 2025 | |||
Naya Simone Cardoza (born November 2, 2004) is a footballer who plays for Halifax Tides FC in the Northern Super League. Born in Canada, she plays for the Jamaica national team.
Early life
Cardoza played youth soccer with Pickering FC and Woodbridge Strikers and also played with the Ontario provincial team.[1][2]
College career
In 2022, Cardoza began attending Brown University, where she played for the women's soccer team.[3] On September 1, 2022, she scored her first collegiate goal in a 1-0 victory over the Central Connecticut Blue Devils.[4] On October 31, 2022, she was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Year.[5] At the end of her freshman season, she was named to the All-NEWISA Second Team, TopDrawerSoccer Freshman Best XI Second Team, and All-Ivy League Honorable Mention.[6][1] In October 2024, she was named the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week.[7] At the end of 2024, she was again named an All-Ivy League Honorable Mention.[1] In September 2025, she was named the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week in back-to-back weeks and to the TopDrawerSoccer’s National Team of the Week.[8][9][10] At the end of her senior season, she was named to the All-Ivy League First Team, All-East Region First Team, All-NEWISA First Team, and the Ivy League All-Tournament Team.[11][1] She was also named to the NEWISA Senior Bowl.[12]
Club career
Cardoza played in League1 Ontario with stints with Durham United FA, Woodbridge Strikers, Vaughan Azzurri, and then returning to Pickering FC (who re-branded from Durham United).[13]
In February 2026, Cardoza signed with Halifax Tides FC in the Northern Super League.[14]
International career
Cardoza played with the Jamaica U17 team.[1]
In the spring of 2024, Cardoza was called up to a camp with the Jamaica national team.[15] She made her debut in February 2024 against Chile.[16] On February 26, 2025, she scored her first international goal in a match against Peru.[17]
Career statistics
- As of December 31, 2025
| Club | Season | League | Playoffs | Domestic Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Durham United FA | 2017[18] | League1 Ontario | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2018[19] | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2019[20] | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | |||||
| Total | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | ||
| Woodbridge Strikers | 2021[21] | League1 Ontario | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 2 | ||
| Vaughan Azzurri | 2023[22] | League1 Ontario | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 2 | ||
| 2024[13] | League1 Ontario Premier | 2 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |||
| Total | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | ||
| Vaughan Azzurri B | 2024[13] | League2 Ontario | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 1 | ||
| Pickering FC | 2025[13] | League1 Ontario Championship | 8 | 7 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 9 | 7 | ||
| Career total | 24 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 13 | ||
References
- ^ a b c d e "Naya Cardoza Brown profile". Brown Bears.
- ^ McNair, Brian (16 May 2019). "Durham soccer players off to Spain for Gatorade 5v5 global tournament". Pickering News Advertiser.
- ^ Hendry, Glenn (16 February 2022). "Pickering soccer star commits to Brown University on scholarship".
- ^ "Women's soccer blanks CCSU in home opener". Brown Bears. 1 September 2022.
- ^ "Cardoza named Ivy Rookie of the Week". Brown Bears. 31 October 2022.
- ^ "Raphino, Cardoza named to TopDrawerSoccer Best XI teams". Brown Bears. 20 December 2022.
- ^ "Naya Cardoza Named Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week". Brown Bears. 28 October 2024.
- ^ "Cardoza Named Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week". Brown Bears. 15 September 2025.
- ^ "Cardoza Named to TopDrawerSoccer's National Team of the Week". Brown Bears. 17 September 2025.
- ^ "Okonye and Cardoza Named Ivy League Players of the Week". Brown Bears. 22 September 2025.
- ^ "Joy Okonye Named Ivy Offensive Player of the Year, Unanimous First Teamer alongside Naya Cardoza". Brown Bears. 5 November 2025.
- ^ "Cardoza, Shell Selected to the NEWISA Senior Bowl". Brown Bears. 1 December 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Naya Cardoza L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
- ^ "Halifax Tides FC sign Canadian-Jamaican defender Naya Cardoza". Halifax Tides FC. 12 February 2026.
- ^ "Naya Cardoza Selected for Jamaican National Team Camp". Brown Bears. 25 November 2024.
- ^ Buckley, Shaneil (24 November 2024). "Busby opening doors for young Reggae Girlz". Jamaica Gleaner.
- ^ "Naya Cardoza with her first international goal for Jamaica! – Jamaica vs Peru - Feb 26, 2025". Reggae Football Fanz. 18 March 2025.
- ^ "Naya Cardoza 2017 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
- ^ "Naya Cardoza 2018 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
- ^ "Naya Cardoza 2019 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
- ^ "Naya Cardoza 2021 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
- ^ "Naya Cardoza 2023 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.