From Fort Mill to the Pacific: William Cardona’s Long Road to a First Professional Goal

When William Cardona stepped onto the field at Eden Park for his first professional match, the distance was more than geographic. Three quarters of the world away from Fort Mill, South Carolina, the former Virginia Tech captain was beginning a career that few players ever imagine, much less choose.

Vanuatu United, the brand-new OFC Pro League, and a hub tournament in rainy Auckland are not traditional starting points for an American college graduate. But for Cardona, the path was simple.

“Since four years old, I’ve been dreaming of becoming a professional football player,” he said. “When the opportunity came, it was a no brainer.”

A family friend in Charlotte connected him to the Vanuatu staff. A Zoom call followed. Within weeks, Cardona was packing for Oceania, heading to a country he admitted he had to find on a map first. The cultural leap was real, but so was the purpose. Facilities might be modest compared to ACC standards, but the mission was clear: play professionally, adapt quickly, and earn every minute.

That purpose crystallized in stoppage time of match day one.

With Vanuatu trailing and seconds left, Cardona was not watching the clock. He was hunting second balls. A loose clearance fell to him at the top of the box. He did not hesitate.

“I hit it as hard as I could, and it just went in,” he said. “As soon as it went in, I just turned and went to celebrate with my team.”

The equalizer was more than a goal. It was the first signature moment of a new league and the first professional goal of his life. In the celebration, Cardona looked skyward and dedicated it to his grandfather, who first introduced him to the game and passed away during COVID. The emotions came all at once. Tears. Joy. Relief. Adrenaline.

Back in the locker room, his phone told the rest of the story. Family group chats. WhatsApp messages. Parents crying on the other side of the world. A dream that once felt distant suddenly felt real.

Yet Cardona’s story is not built on romance alone. He speaks deliberately about mindset, professionalism, and leadership. The habits learned at Virginia Tech, captaining a team, staying tactically engaged, keeping teammates focused late in matches, are now his foundation.

“You have to be very in tune with what you’re doing every single day,” he said.

For Cardona, faith anchors the journey. Psalm 27 travels with him into every match. “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?” It is a reminder to play without fear and to keep going until the final whistle.

In a league still writing its first chapter, Cardona already understands his role. Not just as a player, but as an example. Proof that professional paths are not always linear, and that sometimes, the longest journeys lead to the clearest beginnings.