Oct. 10, 2011

STANFORD, Calif. - All-America midfielder Mariah Nogueira has made an impact on the soccer field for No. 1 Stanford, but she also has sought to make an impact off it as well.

During spring break, the Westminster, Calif., native traveled to the Dominican Republic with a nonprofit organization called Kids Alive International, which provides an education, nutritious meals, medical care and Christian fellowship to more than 1,200 children in the Dominican Republic.

Nogueira was among about a dozen other student-athletes from Bay Area schools, such as Cal and Santa Clara, involved in service work and playing sports with children at an orphanage.

The experience has made a lasting impression on Nogueira, whose own parents met doing charity work in Brazil for the Church of Latter Day Saints and were an inspiration to Mariah.