High School/Club: Cardoso is a highly decorated midfielder from Broadway High School, where she earned four soccer letters. Cardoso holds the school record for goals scored in a season (22), which she accomplished as a junior, and career goals (48). Following her senior season, Cardoso was selected to play in the Virginia High School League All-Star game. In 2009, she collected Massanutten District and Region III Player of the Year honors along with an all-state selection. Cardoso was a three-time most valuable player and all-district selection. Additionally, she earned all-region honors as a sophomore, junior and senior. Cardoso led the Gobblers to a second-place district finish after posting a 9-8-1 record as a junior. In her sophomore campaign, Cardoso scored 11 goals after she scored 10 and tallied 15 assists as a freshman.

Personal: Cardoso is the daughter of Pureza Romero and was born in El Dormido, Guanajuato, Mexico. She is majoring in biology.