California State University Northridge Athletics
Photo by: Shae Hammond
Ashley Cruz Invited to Train with El Salvador National Team
6/14/2021 1:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Women's Soccer's midfielder Ashley Cruz received an invitation to train with the El Salvador National Team for a two-week stint during the month of June in San Salvador. In the 26-member camp, Cruz is one of three college student-athletes invited to train with the team.
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A native of Oxnard, Calif., Cruz's parents were born in El Salvador. She previously represented El Salvador as a member of the U-17 National team while a student at Oxnard High School in 2015. During her first international stint, Cruz scored three goals in her debut match in a 7-1 win over Nicaragua at the CONCACAF U-17 Championship.
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"It means so much to be able to represent my parent's country," said Cruz. "They've sacrificed so much for me in order to have a better life than what they had. My dad especially has invested so much of his time throughout my life coaching me so that I could become a good soccer player. I know he's really proud of me especially after coming back from two ACL surgeries in 2017 and 2018."
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Joining CSUN in 2017, Cruz was forced to miss every match in each of her first two seasons with the Matadors due to injury. She would fully recover ahead of the 2019 season before making her CSUN debut that season. She saw action in 13 games and finished with two assists for the year.
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Cruz was a key contributor in the Matadors' Big West Tournament run in 2019 that saw CSUN finish as runners-up. In her first career postseason game with the Matadors, Cruz dished out the game-winning assist on Alexis White's golden goal in a 1-0 win over UC Santa Barbara at the Big West Tournament semifinals.
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"Competing with the El Salvador National Team helps my development as a soccer player in many ways," said Cruz. "One way is the mental aspect of the game. I'm required to think more because the practices are instructed in Spanish. The game is still the same but in the drills, I have to make sure I'm doing what I'm being asked. Another way is that we're playing teams from different countries.
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"National teams all have different styles of play and the experiences are unique," she added. "I am able to learn from other players and pick up on things that I want to add to my style of play."
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Cruz graduated from CSUN with a bachelor's degree in public health this spring. With two years of eligibility still left, Cruz is looking to return to the CSUN Women's Soccer team as a graduate student this fall.
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She is pursuing an advanced degree in community health education under the master of public health program. After CSUN, Cruz plans to work in maternal and infant health.
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#UniteTheValley
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A native of Oxnard, Calif., Cruz's parents were born in El Salvador. She previously represented El Salvador as a member of the U-17 National team while a student at Oxnard High School in 2015. During her first international stint, Cruz scored three goals in her debut match in a 7-1 win over Nicaragua at the CONCACAF U-17 Championship.
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"It means so much to be able to represent my parent's country," said Cruz. "They've sacrificed so much for me in order to have a better life than what they had. My dad especially has invested so much of his time throughout my life coaching me so that I could become a good soccer player. I know he's really proud of me especially after coming back from two ACL surgeries in 2017 and 2018."
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Joining CSUN in 2017, Cruz was forced to miss every match in each of her first two seasons with the Matadors due to injury. She would fully recover ahead of the 2019 season before making her CSUN debut that season. She saw action in 13 games and finished with two assists for the year.
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Cruz was a key contributor in the Matadors' Big West Tournament run in 2019 that saw CSUN finish as runners-up. In her first career postseason game with the Matadors, Cruz dished out the game-winning assist on Alexis White's golden goal in a 1-0 win over UC Santa Barbara at the Big West Tournament semifinals.
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"Competing with the El Salvador National Team helps my development as a soccer player in many ways," said Cruz. "One way is the mental aspect of the game. I'm required to think more because the practices are instructed in Spanish. The game is still the same but in the drills, I have to make sure I'm doing what I'm being asked. Another way is that we're playing teams from different countries.
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"National teams all have different styles of play and the experiences are unique," she added. "I am able to learn from other players and pick up on things that I want to add to my style of play."
Â
Cruz graduated from CSUN with a bachelor's degree in public health this spring. With two years of eligibility still left, Cruz is looking to return to the CSUN Women's Soccer team as a graduate student this fall.
Â
She is pursuing an advanced degree in community health education under the master of public health program. After CSUN, Cruz plans to work in maternal and infant health.
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#UniteTheValley
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Players Mentioned
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