BOISE, Idaho — The plan started as a way to catch the eyes of college recruiters.

Boise High School sophomore Marisol Stosich would post her soccer highlights to social media, build a following and maybe someday receive that coveted Division I scholarship.

But Stosich drew the attention of more than just college coaches. Scouts for the Guatemalan women’s soccer team found her highlights online, spotted her at a showcase event and liked what they saw.

Fast-forward through a whirlwind year of paperwork and tryouts, and the 16-year-old made her international debut with the Guatemalan senior national team last week.

The sophomore came off the bench in the 58th minute of a friendly vs. Colombia in New Jersey, taking the field with women twice her age under professional contracts throughout Europe and both North and South America.

“I’m not sure how they found me,” Stosich said this week. “But they did.”

Guatemalan heritage

Born in Utah, Stosich grew up in Idaho Falls before moving to Boise last summer. She’s long dominated on Idaho soccer fields, making the all-state first team last fall for Boise High, playing with the Boise Timbers-Thorns in the ECNL, and helping lead Idaho Rush to a Far West regional title and a trip to the U.S Youth Soccer national finals last fall.

She proudly displayed her Guatemalan heritage across social media, posting updates from the family’s regular trips to Central America. But playing for that country never crossed her mind until an assistant coach contacted her mother in August.

“It was funny,” Claudia Stosich said. “I noticed a group for the Guatemalan national team was following her. I didn’t think it was a real thing because they only had a few followers. Then, all of a sudden, someone contacted me through WhatsApp and said, ‘We think she has great potential.’ ”

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