EDMONDS, Washington (STPNS) -- Juliet Hufford is only 10 years old, but she’s already putting in a lot of time working to achieve her dream.

The Maplewood K-8 student plays Premier Soccer at Northwest Nationals.

“That’s the highest level of soccer for her age level in the state,” father Kerry Hufford said. “She’s been playing there for two years now.”

She’s also been delivering the Beacon for two years, not coincidentally. Her older brother Avery has a Beacon route as well.

When it came time to play Premier Soccer, she needed to find a job to help pay the costs.



It’s expensive, there is a lot of traveling and driving to practices – lots of practices (at the Starfire Complex, where the Sounders practice). She attends up to four, two-hour practices a week.

For instance, last year Juliet played in 33 games, including league and tournaments.

The home games are played in Lynnwood and Meadowdale, but away games can take her to Tri-Cities and Yakima.

But Juliet must be as good delivering her papers as she is on the soccer field, because she gets a lot of help from the neighbors she delivers papers to.

“We call it the $5 street, because everyone gives me $5 for delivering papers,” Juliet said. “They do it to help me with soccer.

“The people are all really nice. I give them notes telling them about my soccer, and they’re always asking me how I’m doing.”

And for those who aren’t on the route, Juliet is doing just fine.

She’s known as “Tiny” to her teammates, but she plays big.

“She’s usually one of the smallest on the field, but she’s dirt tough and fearless,” Kerry Hufford said.

Juliet plays defense and excels at stopping scores.

Last year, her team had only 17 goals scored against them in 33 games, shutting out their opponents 20 times.

They made it to the State Cup last year before being eliminated with a 2-1 loss in single elimination.

But she works just as hard off the field, and her customers appreciate that.

“The paper route was to help with the soccer, and mom and dad would do the rest,” Kerry Hufford said. “Her work ethic is impressive for her age.”

Impressive for any age, for that matter.