Five Questions: Scarlett Camberos

Forward Scarlett Camberos joined Angel City following a transfer from Club América in March. A San Diego native, Camberos is a standout for the Mexican national team, having scored for Mexico against Angel City in last year's Copa Angelina game.

Camberos scored her first goal for ACFC two weeks ago in the team's final Challenge Cup game, against the Wave in her hometown, but her profile had been growing even before the goal: the UC Irvine grad has two assists and three chances created in the regular season, and two assists and eight chances created in the Challenge Cup. AngelCity.com sat down with the forward before training to talk about scoring, her adjustment to the NWSL, and her favorite movie—with a cameo by an Angel City defender!

AngelCity.com: You scored your first goal a couple weeks ago in San Diego—but even before that, you'd been contributing assists. How do those two aspects of the game compare for you?

Scarlett Camberos: Scoring felt great, and I felt a sense of relief, in a way. As a forward you want to score goals. Obviously with Angel City I had played a number of games and I was ready to to score one. It was really cool to do it in San Diego, because they're a rival team but it's also my hometown, so my friends and family were there. I'm super, super, super happy about it, and hopefully I can start knocking in some more.

Obviously I think my job entails doing both scoring and assisting, but the feeling of scoring is always like, 'whoa!' You're the one celebrating, and it just feels different. But obviously I'm happy to be the person assisting or scoring goals. It doesn't matter.

ACFC: It seems like you've gotten a lot more confident on the field since arriving here in March. What factors have helped you adjust?

SC: I think I have a better understanding with my teammates now. There's ten other players on the field besides me, and ultimately you need to use your teammates' abilities to understand how we can beat opponents. So it's really crucial for me to understand what run someone is going to make, or what they do when they have the ball. It helps me read what I should do off the ball.

Also, personality wise, I think I was a little shy at first. I didn't know what to expect coming in, and I think that translates a lot on the field. The coaching staff has also given me a lot of confidence. They know what I'm capable of, so that makes me feel more comfortable.

ACFC: Is there also an element of the style of play being different in the NWSL compared to Liga MX Femenil?

SC: Definitely. Here it's very, very transitional, which I wasn't used to in Mexico. You have to be a lot more aware of where you lose the ball and things like that, because it can be really dangerous to lose the ball in the wrong place. Whereas I think over there it wouldn't be as dangerous or. The physical part of the game here is also a lot different to Mexico.

Practicing the physical part of the game is super important. If we're doing it in training, we're going into tackles first, we're stronger and get the ball more, and that translates into more opportunities. It's hard to play teams when they're so strong and ready to go into tackles.

ACFC: Which one of your teammates do you think would do best in the Hunger Games?

SC: Oh, that's a good one.

[Defender Megan Reid walks by]

SC: Maybe Megan. She's really strong.

Megan Reid: And I have medical knowledge.

SC: Yeah, she's really smart with that.

ACFC: What's a show or movie you've enjoyed recently?

SC: I just rewatched The Greatest Showman. I literally sing along with every song. I love that movie.