Leading his college conference in goals was never part of Lucas Miranda’s original plan.
For much of his development, including his time at IDA Valencia, the Puerto Rican primarily played at right back. When he arrived at South Dakota Mines and was asked to play as a striker, his first objective was straightforward: adapt quickly and earn his place.
By October 20, he had scored ten goals, topped the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference scoring charts, and earned RMAC Offensive Player of the Week honours after a two-goal performance against Colorado Christian. His college season is still underway.
Behind those achievements is a story of preparation, trust, and a willingness to embrace change – qualities Lucas connects directly to his two years at IDA.
“When I arrived at the collegiate level and was assigned to play as a striker, I had to make some quick adjustments to earn playing time,” Lucas explains. “Preseason was crucial for me, and my experience at IDA had prepared me to adapt to different game situations and positions.”
In Spain, training and trial opportunities with other clubs had repeatedly placed him in unfamiliar environments. He would join players who already understood their coach’s expectations, their teammates and their roles. Lucas had to learn quickly and find a way to contribute.
“I had to adapt quickly to those systems and find a way to perform at a competitive level.”
That experience became valuable when he faced a new position in college.
“Those experiences helped me accomplish my first goal: facing change with confidence and courage, and earning my place on the roster.”
His college coaches trusted him to start from the opening game. Lucas responded by focusing on discipline, keeping his game simple and maintaining his intensity.
“I have trained with discipline and dedication, and the numbers have simply been the result of all those factors coming together.”
Before moving to Valencia, Lucas and his family had considered a tournament in Italy his farewell to competitive football before college. His performances there opened another possibility through Jordi Gómez (IDA Valencia’s CEO), and his journey eventually brought him to IDA.
That decision gave the player from Isabela, Puerto Rico, time to develop his game before entering the NCAA DII environment.
Lucas arrived with physical and athletic strengths, but quickly recognised how much he could improve technically and tactically. He credits coaches Carles Coto and Adrián Pinazo with helping him meet those challenges through demanding training, patience and personal support.
“They challenged me to meet high expectations while preserving my confidence and self-esteem.”
For Lucas, that balance mattered. He could learn new concepts, make adjustments, and face higher standards while retaining the belief needed to compete.
“It was at the academy that I developed many of the soccer skills and tools that have allowed me to adapt to the responsibilities and demands of my current role.”
His first IDA story followed the journey from Puerto Rico to Spain and his commitment to South Dakota Mines. His performances now show how that preparation is carrying into college competition.
Lucas’s brace in the 4–0 home victory over Colorado Christian offered two different examples of his growing confidence as a striker.
The opening goal required him to compete for the ball in a crowded area. The second gave him space to attack and execute a finish he had been developing with his college coaches.
“That was especially rewarding because shooting from distance is something my coaches and I have worked extremely hard on since I arrived at this institution.”
The performance helped earn him the conference’s weekly offensive award. While he values the recognition, he places greater importance on what his goals contribute to the team.
“My greatest satisfaction comes from knowing that I have been able to contribute to the outstanding season our team is having so far.”
He is equally clear about the people helping him perform: coaches who trust him, teammates who have welcomed him and staff who keep the squad healthy and prepared.
“Our collective goals will always come before any individual achievement.”
Lucas is also pursuing a degree in Biomedical Engineering. Managing that academic workload alongside college football requires the same discipline he applies to training.
He sees a direct connection with the responsibilities he learned at IDA.
“At IDA, we were also responsible for managing our schedules and meeting our training commitments, which is very similar to what I experience today.”
Living and training alongside people from different cultures helped him become more open-minded and willing to learn from others. Managing his own time taught him how everyday choices affect performance.
“IDA helped me understand that discipline is not limited to what happens on the field. It is also reflected in the decisions we make when nobody is watching.”
Those lessons now support both sides of his student-athlete experience: competing in NCAA Division II football and working towards an engineering degree.
With the season still unfolding, Lucas and his teammates are pursuing a postseason place that he says would be the first in the programme’s history.
“We still have goals to achieve, and we are not satisfied yet.”
For players across IDA considering their own next steps, his advice begins with understanding what motivates them – and using the opportunities already around them.
“Take full advantage of every opportunity and every resource the academy provides.”
“Learn from your coaches, your teammates, your experiences, and even your most difficult moments.”
Lucas’s journey gives that advice substance. Training with unfamiliar teams helped him adjust to a new position. Technical and tactical development gave him more tools to compete. Greater independence helped him manage college life.
Today, those experiences are contributing to goals, starts, conference recognition, and progress towards a degree. For the next IDA player preparing for an opportunity, his story shows how the work done now can become useful in ways they have yet to anticipate.
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