By: Joe Perrino
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Over 7,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean lies Dunedin, New Zealand. A Scottish settlement now home to 131,800 Kiwis – an affectionate nickname for a New Zealander – the University of Otago, and the temporary residence of Occidental Women's Soccer's Kylie Jones.
Jones's journey commenced during the spring semester when she began a study abroad program in Sports & Exercise Science at the University of Otago. With hopes to play 'football' while abroad, Jones and her sister Shelby – a Division III player at Arcadia University in Pennsylvania who also enrolled in the program – explored various options throughout the region.
"We were originally looking to play with the university's team here," Jones said. "But a good friend of ours had reached out to the Royals coach…we'd went to their preseason and tryouts and ended sticking with this team for the semester."
Jones has done more than stick with the Dunedin City Royals – a member of the Women's South Island League, which Jones notes as the most competitive amateur league in New Zealand. Through 11 games, the team holds an 11-0-0 record and Jones, who's made the move to forward, has 11 goals on the season. Her most recent came in the 67
th minute of a 4-0 win over Otago University.
Despite playing defense as a Tiger, Jones welcomes the change on the pitch.
"I think her in in-season games in the whole league, I think I'm fifth place in Golden Boot," Jones said. "But since we're in first place we have a 41-goal differential…we have two girls with like 14 goals or something like that."
The Golden Boot is awarded to the player in the South Island League that tallies the most goals in a single season. Jones, who noted some of the Royals' games count towards the South Island League standings, while others are apart of the Kate Sheppard Cup – an in-season tournament, has seven in-league goals, which is tied for seventh.
Jones has been sidelined with injuries for the past two seasons so an opportunity to return to the field was welcoming not only to her, but
Colm McFeely, the head coach of Oxy women's soccer.
"Before I left, he said I think you should totally play abroad," Jones said. "Either you're playing on a really good team where you're able to learn a lot, or you'll be on a team where you can teach a lot."
Jones notes the Royals as being a great fit for the ability to both learn and lead.
Through all the success, both individually and with the team, Jones notes the overall experience abroad and the New Zealand culture as the best part of it all.
"That's the main reason I've extended my visa as long as I could. It's such a beautiful island," Jones said. "The culture around soccer, or I should say football, is a lot more involved. I think that's been the biggest culture shock."
The Dunedin City Royals FC makes up four different teams, creating a large community. Jones says the club comes together at the team's clubhouse for drinks, speeches and overall fun.
On top of camaraderie-building activities, Jones and the Royals frequently fly to matches in Christchurch, New Zealand. Half of the team's games are played locally while the others require day trips akin to a quick flight from LAX to SFO (San Francisco). Games are played that day, then it's back to Dunedin after the final whistle.
Once Jones makes the 7,000-mile trek back stateside to return for the 2025-26 school year, she believes her experiences with the Royals could help her and the Tigers as they head into her senior season.
"Being able to play with a lot of veterans on this team and be the first-place team has taught me a little bit about the intensity we should bring to practice, and I think that there's a lot of a positive attitude that I'm able to bring from this both on and off the field," Jones said.
