Jimena Perez Ayala

Photo by: Clayton Kuiper '26

Photo by: Sydney Kline '26 - @sydney.kline.photography

Position:
Forward
Height:
5-7
Class:
Freshman
Hometown:
Monterrey, NL, Mexico
High School:
American School Foundation of Monterrey

2025: Played in all 18 matches with six starts … named Mid-American Conference All-Freshman … first Mexican-born player in program history … led CMU with three goals, all in conference play … all three goals led to at least one point in MAC standings … collected game-winner in season finale against Eastern Michigan (Oct. 29) … scored first goal against Toledo (Sept. 25), levelling goal against Kent State (Oct. 16), both 1-1 draws … goal against Kent State was first penalty score for CMU since 2022 … made collegiate debut and first start in season-opener against Butler (Aug. 14) … put six of nine shots on-frame (.667 SOG%)

High School: Graduated as a two-year Presidential Honor Roll recipient from American School Foundation of Monterrey in 2024 … two-time top scorer in the ASOMEX Juv C Mayor tournament (2024, 2022), leading her team to tournament titles both seasons … named team MVP (2022) … selected to high school elite team

Club: Competed for Tigres Femenil (2022-25) … won 2024 Dallas Cup … Liga MX Sub18 Torneo Clausura (2023) and Torneo Apertura (2024) semifinalist

Personal: Daughter of Anelisa Ayala Contel and Francisco Javier Perez Garcia … has two older sisters: Fernanda and Anelisa … enjoys hiking, reading, hanging out with family and friends, and going to the gym

“Why CMU?”: “I was first contacted by the coaches which offered me a heartwarming welcome; they made sure I had all the information needed to make a decision. They gave me insights into the amazing campus, elite facilities, and most importantly the family-like team they are leaders of. When it came time to choose a college, I knew I wanted to be part of a program that fosters strong competition in daily training, which Coach Spencer made clear was a priority, and feels like a true home away from home.”

Story Time: “I have two sisters—one studies abroad, and the other is a dedicated runner. One weekend, Fernanda came to visit from Boston, and coincidentally, my runner sister was registered for a half marathon. We sat around the lunch table the day before the race, the three of us talked about how incredible it would be to run a half marathon together someday. The next morning, with no training at all, we decided to show up and see just how far we could go. Fernanda had never run as much as 10 minutes on the treadmill, and I was not a fan of long-distance running. Somehow, we made it to the finish line, checked off one of our bucket list items, and enjoyed a huge breakfast after the race.”