Daviana Vaka joins the Gators for the upcoming 2023 season. The defender played at BYU the last three seasons.
Gator Soccer Adds Transfer Daviana Vaka
Wednesday, May 31, 2023 | Soccer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida soccer adds defender Daviana Vaka (pronounced Day-VEE-ah-nuh) to the 2023 Gator roster. Vaka comes to the Gators as a graduate transfer after playing three seasons at Brigham Young and has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
"We are very excited to add Daviana to our squad this year. She's played big minutes against some of the top teams in the nation and brings experience that will help us with the demands of the SEC," Bohon said. "Davi has exciting athleticism and versatility that, coupled with her soccer ability, will only help us strengthen our team. While unapologetically competitive on the field, she'll bring great energy and personality off the field. Davi joins an impressive group of transfers that will undoubtedly impact our team this fall."
Vaka joins 12 other newcomers for the 2023 season. Eight signed with Florida last fall. Three transfers and an early high school graduate joined the Gator team this spring.
Daviana Vaka TW: @davianavaka1 IG: @davianavaka
High School/Club:
International:
Major:
Graduated from BYU with her bachelor's degree in business management in May of 2023
Begins studies for a sports management graduate certificate at UF in fall of 2023
Did You Know:
Has a twin sister, Laveni, who is a defender on BYU's soccer team.
She Said:
"I'm grateful for the opportunity to be a Gator and am looking forward to adding my experience to the team as a grad transfer. I can't wait to get to Gainesville and get to work with my teammates!" – Daviana Vaka
Vaka's Career Statistics (at BYU)
"We are very excited to add Daviana to our squad this year. She's played big minutes against some of the top teams in the nation and brings experience that will help us with the demands of the SEC," Bohon said. "Davi has exciting athleticism and versatility that, coupled with her soccer ability, will only help us strengthen our team. While unapologetically competitive on the field, she'll bring great energy and personality off the field. Davi joins an impressive group of transfers that will undoubtedly impact our team this fall."
Vaka joins 12 other newcomers for the 2023 season. Eight signed with Florida last fall. Three transfers and an early high school graduate joined the Gator team this spring.
Daviana Vaka TW: @davianavaka1 IG: @davianavaka
- Position: Defender
- High School: Juan Diego Catholic H.S. (Coach: Goran Golemba/Daniel Cavar)
- Hometown: Sandy, Utah
- Club Team: Utah Avalanche (Coach: Jimmie Powell)
- Info
- Provided assist on game-winning goals in 2-1 wins versus Gonzaga and at Loyola Marymount in 2022
- Oct. 24, 2022 West Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Week after assist and goal line clearance versus Gonzaga
- Appeared in all but four matches in each of 2021 and 2022 seasons
- Career high minutes (62) played in 1-1 OT match versus Stanford in 2022 NCAA Second Round (BYU advanced 5-4 on penalty kicks)
- The Cougars advanced to NCAA action each of three seasons Vaka competed for BYU – 2022 (third round), 2021 (championship match) and 2020-21 (second round)
- West Coast Conference Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll in 2021-22 (bronze)
High School/Club:
- 2018 All-State 4A Second Team
- 2017 Salt Lake Tribune All-State Honorable Mention
- 2016 Salt Lake Tribune All-State Team
- 2016 Top Goal Scorer in Utah (27 goals)
- 2015 All-State 3A Honorable Mention
- Scored twice in Juan Diego Catholic H.S.'s 3-0 win to claim 2016 Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA) 3A State title
- 2016-17 Player Development Program
- 2015-17 ECNL Player to Watch
- 2x All-American Junior Olympics track and field
- Captain and 4-year starter for Juan Diego Catholic H.S.
International:
- Scored first international goal on July 23, 2022 versus Papua New Guinea in Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Women's Nations Cup, playing entirety of 3-3 tie match
Major:
Graduated from BYU with her bachelor's degree in business management in May of 2023
Begins studies for a sports management graduate certificate at UF in fall of 2023
Did You Know:
Has a twin sister, Laveni, who is a defender on BYU's soccer team.
She Said:
"I'm grateful for the opportunity to be a Gator and am looking forward to adding my experience to the team as a grad transfer. I can't wait to get to Gainesville and get to work with my teammates!" – Daviana Vaka
Vaka's Career Statistics (at BYU)
| Season | GP-GS | Min | Shots | G | A | Pts |
| 2019 | 0-0 | |||||
| 2020-21 | 8-0 | 120 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 20-0 | 511 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 19-0 | 595 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Totals | 47-0 | 1226 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
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