Photo by: Paul Trafecanty
Matadors Welcome Four Newcomers to Spring Practice
3/30/2021 4:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---After a full year away from the soccer pitch, the CSUN Women's Soccer team returned to the practice field earlier this month. With their return, the Matadors have welcomed in four newcomers to the team that are looking to help the Matadors return to the Big West Tournament in the fall. Joining the Matadors in 2021 are three true freshmen, Rachelle Espitia, Dayne Wagner and Sophia Druian and a sophomore transfer from Oregon State, Brooke Mobeck.
"These four are going to be a great compliment to what we already have," said head coach Keith West. "We had a mix in 2019 of good athletes and soccer players, this group does it all. We have brought in size, speed and technique. They are going to fit in really nice since they've come from good club programs and coaching."
Originally from Victorville, Calif., Espitia was a two-sport athlete at Serrano High School. Playing at forward and midfield, Espitia spent three seasons on the soccer team as well as four years on the track & field team. In soccer, she helped the Diamondbacks win a pair of league championships. Espitia also played club soccer for So Cal Rush Soccer Club in Hesperia, Calif. On the track, Espitia competed in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay. In addition to her athletic accomplishments, Espitia also graduated with honors last year.
"Rachelle is going to be able to break the backline and get behind you," said West. "She's got a knack for scoring goals. Rachelle is a hard worker and a wonderful person. She's going to give defenses a problem up top with her attitude to score."
Coming to the Matadors from Carpinteria High School, Wagner played club with Eagles Club Soccer Academy during her high school career. A primary defender, Wagner spent time playing prep soccer where she earned all-league and academic all-league honors twice. Wagner played high school soccer as a freshman and a senior. She would help lead her team to a league championship and to the second round of the CIF-Southern Section Division VII playoffs as a freshman.
"Dayne is another good soccer player," said West. "She's intelligent and technically very sound. She's got the total package when it comes to being a defender. For me, I think she's a defender at heart that can play in the midfield if needed."
Originally from Newbury Park, Calif., Druian earned club experience with Real So Cal where she won the Surf Cup. She spent her freshman season on the varsity team at Oak Park High School and scored 13 goals. Druian graduated from Westlake High School in 2020. Her family has a connection with CSUN as her mother Annette and uncle Garrett Noel were javelin throwers with the Matadors. Druian's grandfather Alan Noel also played football and her other grandfather Bob Allen played basketball for then known San Fernando Valley State College in the 1960s.
"Sophia can pretty much play any position on the field, if we needed her to," said West. "She can run the ball, head the ball and dribble. She's a complete player when it comes to handling the ball. She's going to add strength, toughness and quality to the ball for us."
Hailing from Upland, Calif., Mobeck comes to CSUN after spending the 2019 season as a freshman midfielder at Oregon State. She appeared in 18 matches with the Beavers including one start where she tallied four shots for the campaign. Prior to her college career, Mobeck played varsity all four years at Upland High School. She helped the Highlanders win the 2018 CIF Division I Southern California Regional title as well as three-straight league championships. As a senior, Mobeck earned All-League MVP honors while she was a Scholar-Athlete all four years. Mobeck played club soccer with Arsenal FC.
"Brooke played good minutes for Oregon State last year and she was a big part of their success that season," said West. "She is a very good soccer player and a great passer. She'll be a good offensive player for us. I'm super excited to bring her to the team. She has Pac-12 experience, and our team needs experience and the quality that she'll bring."
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"These four are going to be a great compliment to what we already have," said head coach Keith West. "We had a mix in 2019 of good athletes and soccer players, this group does it all. We have brought in size, speed and technique. They are going to fit in really nice since they've come from good club programs and coaching."
Originally from Victorville, Calif., Espitia was a two-sport athlete at Serrano High School. Playing at forward and midfield, Espitia spent three seasons on the soccer team as well as four years on the track & field team. In soccer, she helped the Diamondbacks win a pair of league championships. Espitia also played club soccer for So Cal Rush Soccer Club in Hesperia, Calif. On the track, Espitia competed in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay. In addition to her athletic accomplishments, Espitia also graduated with honors last year.
"Rachelle is going to be able to break the backline and get behind you," said West. "She's got a knack for scoring goals. Rachelle is a hard worker and a wonderful person. She's going to give defenses a problem up top with her attitude to score."
Coming to the Matadors from Carpinteria High School, Wagner played club with Eagles Club Soccer Academy during her high school career. A primary defender, Wagner spent time playing prep soccer where she earned all-league and academic all-league honors twice. Wagner played high school soccer as a freshman and a senior. She would help lead her team to a league championship and to the second round of the CIF-Southern Section Division VII playoffs as a freshman.
"Dayne is another good soccer player," said West. "She's intelligent and technically very sound. She's got the total package when it comes to being a defender. For me, I think she's a defender at heart that can play in the midfield if needed."
Originally from Newbury Park, Calif., Druian earned club experience with Real So Cal where she won the Surf Cup. She spent her freshman season on the varsity team at Oak Park High School and scored 13 goals. Druian graduated from Westlake High School in 2020. Her family has a connection with CSUN as her mother Annette and uncle Garrett Noel were javelin throwers with the Matadors. Druian's grandfather Alan Noel also played football and her other grandfather Bob Allen played basketball for then known San Fernando Valley State College in the 1960s.
"Sophia can pretty much play any position on the field, if we needed her to," said West. "She can run the ball, head the ball and dribble. She's a complete player when it comes to handling the ball. She's going to add strength, toughness and quality to the ball for us."
Hailing from Upland, Calif., Mobeck comes to CSUN after spending the 2019 season as a freshman midfielder at Oregon State. She appeared in 18 matches with the Beavers including one start where she tallied four shots for the campaign. Prior to her college career, Mobeck played varsity all four years at Upland High School. She helped the Highlanders win the 2018 CIF Division I Southern California Regional title as well as three-straight league championships. As a senior, Mobeck earned All-League MVP honors while she was a Scholar-Athlete all four years. Mobeck played club soccer with Arsenal FC.
"Brooke played good minutes for Oregon State last year and she was a big part of their success that season," said West. "She is a very good soccer player and a great passer. She'll be a good offensive player for us. I'm super excited to bring her to the team. She has Pac-12 experience, and our team needs experience and the quality that she'll bring."
#UniteTheValley
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