By Sofia Puga

It can be a very rewarding feeling when you make a decision and it turns out to not only be the right one, but the best one. For Arizona Western College freshman Jaylei Miller, that decision for her was deciding to commit to Arizona Western rather than a Division I school.

"It's a really funny story, basically I had some complications that set my recruitment process back really far," Miller said. "I had a D1 school in mind that I was going to go to, but I trusted Victor Verdugo and I trusted the program and decided that this place was the best for my development, I couldn't have asked for a better opportunity."

Victor Verdugo is the head coach of the Arizona Western women's soccer team. In her first season with the Lady Matadors, Miller helped guide Arizona Western to the national championship game. Above all, she values hanging out with her teammates. 

"This is the best decision of my life," Miller said. "I love my teammates, that's my family."

Jaylei is from the Phoenix area and graduated from Centennial High School. She plays both center and middle back and emphasized her role's impact on the rest of the team.

"Basically, moving the ball," Miller said. "Being somebody everybody can rely on at any moment and being that last line and having my team's back is a big part of it."

Growing up, Miller did what many children do in school, which is playing a variety of sports. Even though she took part in soccer, she did not enjoy it initially. 

"I actually did not like soccer for a while there and then I got back into it and just fell in love with it from there," Miller said. 

Jaylei and the Lady Matadors women's soccer team finished last season as the national runner up and ranked number two in the NJCAA Division I polls. Miller shares her experience so far playing for a team that has high expectations.

"I think it's really unique because our team culture is very different and we're not settled," Miller said. "To say that we're number two, it just keeps the fire going because we want to be number one and we want to stay number one."

Miller's major is Biology and she aspires to become a doctor. She wants to eventually transfer to a Division I school and use soccer to pay for tuition. 

"I think my passion is definitely serving others," Miller said. "So, I want to serve others in the medical field."

Off the field, Jaylei loves to be social and uses humor to connect with others. She also enjoys listening to music, specifically Drake, J. Cole and Bad Bunny. Her favorite foods are sushi and sandwiches from Jersey Mike's.

Another talent that Miller possesses besides soccer, despite what the general consensus may be, is singing. 

"I'm a phenomenal singer, I don't care what anybody says," Miller joked.