Our final featured newcomer for San Jose State women's soccer is a sophomore transfer that has a ton of upside and invaluable experience at multiple levels. Batya Bagully from San Marcos, Calif. has returned to her home state after spending the last year at the University of Hawai'i, where she redshirted in her lone season. Since 2014, the forward played multiple stints for the Kazakhstan National Team, making 22 appearances in eight different countries. At the age of just 17, she was called up to the adult team where she played in a pair of World Cup qualifying matches against Russia and England.
In high school, Bagully was a two-time letter winner at San Marcos High. She tallied 41 career goals in three seasons, seven of which were game-winners. As a sophomore, she helped the team to a runner-up finish at the state championship and earned first team all-conference and second team All-CIF honors. Learn more about Batya below in this week's newcomer Q&A!
Q: How old were you when you began playing soccer and at what point did you decide you wanted to play it at the collegiate level?
BATYA: I started playing when I was 5 years old, and I decide I wanted to play college ball when I was going into my freshman year of high school.
Q: Who is your favorite soccer player?
BATYA: Abby Wambach
Q: What has been your most memorable moment playing soccer?
BATYA: Getting to play for my national team.
Q: What are some of your favorite hobbies outside of soccer?
BATYA: Traveling, watching Netflix, going on adventures, scootering, eating, biking, playing basketball.
Q: What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you? Can be about soccer or life in general.
BATYA: Always be pushing yourself to get to the next level, in practice, in games, and in life.
Q: What are you looking forward to the most when the restrictions from COVID-19 are lifted?
BATYA: Being able to travel!
Q: Do you have any hidden talents?
BATYA: I can make my tongue look split in half.
Q: If you could have dinner with any person, past or present, real or fictional, who would it be?
BATYA: Jennifer Aniston
Q: Why did you choose to play soccer and attend school at San Jose State?
BATYA: The school has an amazing campus and I like how it's an all-women's staff.