| Reigning MW Champs Reload With Five Immediate Impact NLI Signees The reigning Mountain West champion women's soccer team has reloaded for 2016 and beyond with the signing of five high-impact players to National Letters-of-Intent. Soccerl Home | NLI Release | Tweets by @sjsusoccer |
| Name | Pos | Ht | Class | Hometown (Last School) | |
| High School | |||||
| Kristen Amarikwa | MF/D | 5'7 | Fr. | Bakersfield, Calif. (Frontier HS) | |
| Yaritza Arista | MF | 5'6 | Jr. | Livingston, Calif. (Modesto JC) | |
| Ana Calero | GK | 5'6 | Fr. | Watsonville, Calif. (Aptos HS) | |
| Gabriela Herrera | MF | 5'4 | Fr. | Davis, Calif. (Davis HS) | |
| Carlie James | D | 5'5 | Fr. | Calabasas, Calif. (Calabasas HS) | |
| Kristen Amarikwa |
| MF/D | 5'7 | Fr. | Bakersfield, Calif. (Frontier HS) |
Kristen Amarikwa is a senior at Frontier High School in Bakersfield, Calif., and amid her fourth season of varsity soccer. Amarikwa was the BVarsity Girls Soccer Player of the Year in 2015. She registered 11 goals and 11 assists to lead the Southwest Yosemite League champion Titans in scoring with 33 points. From the midfield position, Amarikwa has registered over 120 career points for her team comprised of 41 goals and 39 assists. But she isn't only an offensive threat, her holding abilities stifled Frontier High's competition to the tune of just four goals in 10 league matches. Amarikwa is an experienced winner, with a 55-15-6 record heading into senior year. As a sophomore in 2014, Amarikwa and Frontier High were the Division II section champion. Kristen's brother Quincy is a forward for the San Jose Quakes, now in his sixth year of Major League Soccer action. Head coach Lauren Hanson on Kristen Amarikwa: "Kristen is gifted both athletically and is a physical player. She has tremendous range all over the field and her heading ability is superb. We are thrilled to add her ball-winning attributes to our squad." |
| Yaritza Arista |
| MF | 5'6 | Jr. | Livingston, Calif. (Modesto JC) |
In 2015, Yaritza Arista was the points leader for #10-nationlly ranked Modesto Junior College. Arista was third overall in the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) with 60 points at the end of the 2015 season. She scored 21 goals and doled out 18 assists. She led Modesto JC all the way to the California State Final Four, where it would wind up third in the state, and 10th-ranked nationally by the final National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll. Arista was selected an all-Northern California Region midfielder. Arista is a graduate of Livingston (Calif.) High School, where she scored 22 goals and had nine assists as a senior. Head coach Lauren Hanson on Yaritza Arista: "Yaritza is very special on the ball. She is crafty, with great vision, and will be an attacking weapon for us. Yari has an ability to read the game on offense that you cannot teach." |
| Ana Calero |
| GK | 5'6 | Fr. | Watsonville, Calif. (Aptos HS) |
Ana Calero is a three-time Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League goalkeeper of the year for Aptos High School. The Watsonville, Calif., native allowed multiple goals to just one league opponent during her freshman year, the first of three straight award-winning seasons. Calero's stellar play between the posts helped Aptos High to a 16-1-3 final record in 2015. Despite 19 saves by Calero, the year ended in the Central Coast Section (CCS) Division II semifinals with a 2-1 overtime loss to Arch Bishop Mitty. Calero ended the year with 17 shutouts, was selected First-Team All-CCS. She hopes to major in criminal justice at San Josà © State. Head coach Lauren Hanson on Ana Calero: "Ana has tremendous natural leadership qualities. She is vocal, and has a great understanding of the game from a rich soccer background. We expect her to come in and compete for the goalkeeping position right away." |
| Gabriela Herrera |
| MF | 5'4 | Fr. | Davis, Calif. (Davis HS) |
Herrera is a senior center midfielder at Davis (Calif.) High School where she was an All-Delta League selection in 2015. Herrera anchored a back line, which allowed just nine goals all season long, and the squad won the Delta League outright with a 12-1-1 record. Herrera plays her club soccer with the Davis Legacy Soccer Club of the National Premier League (NPL). Herrera is a goal-scoring threat as well, and helped Davis Legacy become one of the highest scoring teams in all of the NPL last year with fifty-three goals. Herrera is one of the league's top-30 players which were selected to train for this year's North vs. South match coming up in May. Head coach Lauren Hanson on Gabriela Herrera: "Gaby is one of the most technically gifted youth players I have seen. Her vision and tactical awareness is second to none, and she has a true passion for the game. We are thrilled to have her as a part of our program." |
| Carlie James |
| D | 5'5 | Fr. | Calabasas, Calif. (Calabasas HS) |
Carlie James is in her senior year and fourth season of varsity soccer at Calabasas High School. James, an outside defender and midfielder, was among the Los Angeles Daily News' "players to watch," heading into the 2015 season. She is a team captain following her junior year when she was an all-Marmonte League Second-Team choice. James is also a middle-distance track star for Calabasas High. James plays her club soccer with the Eagles Soccer Club of the Elite Clubs National League, where she is also the team's captain. Head coach Lauren Hanson on Carlie James: "Carlie is one of the hardest working players I have seen. She is athletic and very versatile. She is a great leader, and we are looking forward to her tremendous upside." |
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