By OkayGoal 
SocceristaFest is Girls Soccer Network’s flagship live event – a one-day festival created for girls who live the game and the families who support them. It brings together soccer, education, inspiration, creativity, and community in one immersive experience during World Cup summer. At this event, players, parents, and coaches will have the opportunity to hear from an exciting lineup of speakers, each bringing unique expertise and valuable insights into the world of sports. We’re thrilled to kick off our speaker announcements today by introducing Erica Mulholland and Leslie Bonci!
Erica Mulholland
Erica Mulholland is a speed and strength coach who works with female athletes over the age of 14. With 14 years of experience, her guidance helps athletes become stronger, faster, and more confident through proper gym training. Additionally, Erica is a best-selling author of the book Female Athlete High Performance.
Her motivation stems from serving the young girls she coaches by giving them her all, so they have the opportunity to become resilient and healthy athletes. One of her favorite pieces of advice to share with girls and athletes is:
“Challenge is the key to gaining confidence. Just like in the gym, you cannot progress if you don’t challenge yourself with heavier weights and harder movements over time.”
Erica is so excited to meet everyone and say hello at SocceristaFest, where she will “share myths and misinformation about girls’ soccer ACL injuries in [her] presentation, and give girls and parents actionable, empowering tools to stay strong and healthy throughout their soccer careers!”
For Erica, girls and families need SocceristaFest because the speakers are the best in the business when it comes to helping female athletes. The connections and friendships will be incredible, and the COPA facility will be amazing and full of fun activities. Players will also get the chance to meet college and professional athletes and get inspired!
Fun facts about Erica:
Her favorite female athlete is Dominique Janssen from the Netherlands national team.
The color that best describes her vibe is purple.
One word she hopes girls feel when they leave SocceristaFest is empowered.
Leslie Bonci
Leslie Bonci is a sports dietitian who works one-on-one with athletes, delivers team and food presentations, consults with industry, and creates social media content focused on the importance of being fueled, not fooled. She is currently working on her seventh book and developing online courses for health professionals.
Leslie’s motivation comes from her athletes, her family, and her mission to ensure women have a seat at every table. When it comes to advice, one of Leslie’s favorites is:
“You are so much more than your thighs, your butt, and your abs. You have to be nourished to flourish, with a focus on permission—not omission. YES, I can instead of no, I can’t.”
Leslie believes girls and families need SocceristaFest because misinformation, body shaming, and food blaming continue to circulate in the exercise space. While SocceristaFest is soccer-focused, it emphasizes the player as a whole by supporting mental health, physical well-being, and performance. Leslie is most excited about the opportunity to connect with the female athlete community and share how food can empower, ignite, and fuel the desire to aspire higher.
For Leslie, spaces like COPA matter because:
“We are more than our legs and skills. It is essential to address mental stress, performance disablers, and encourage looking out for each other through conversations over confrontations.”
This environment allows athletes to gain knowledge from speakers and top coaches, while parents can also learn how to encourage their daughters and provide a supportive space around food choices.
Fun facts about Leslie:
Her favorite female athlete is Ilona Maher because she is strong, outspoken, body-positive, and a fierce, fabulous female.
The color that best describes Leslie is bright orange because it makes her happy, represents strength, and is hard to miss.
One word Leslie hopes girls feel when they leave SocceristaFest is accomplished.