Three more 2015 Rio Hondo College Women’s Soccer players have signed their National Letters of Intent with four-year universities to continue their academic and athletic careers.

Goalkeeper Christina Holguin signed with San Fransisco State University, Defender Courtney Gonzalez and Midfielder Alexis Marinero both signed with Ottawa University and will be competing in Kansas next fall.

These three new signings now joined twin sisters Maritza and Janeth Acuna who are both already enrolled and practicing at UC Irvine, and Cassie Duran who is already attending classes at Cal State University Fullerton and is preparing for the upcoming fall season.

Maritza Acuna was also named the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Junior College Scholar National Player of the Year for the 2015 season. Both Acuna sisters were also named NSCAA All-Americans after their impressive 2015 seasons at Rio Hondo.

Holguin had a very impressive season as Goalkeeper with the Lady Roadrunners last year also, as she only allowed a mere 12 goals over a total of 22 games. Holguin managed to get a total of 74 saves and had a whopping nine shutouts in her succesful 2015 season with Rio Hondo.

Holguin will be competing at the NCAA Division 2 level at San Fransisco State University where the school is a member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association. SFSU is coached by Tracy Hamm who came in as head coach in 2015 and led the Gators to an 8-7-3 overall record this last season.

Gonzalez will be a huge asset for the Gators as she helped lead the Rio Hondo defense to a total of 11 shutouts last season while only allowing 0.57 goals per game. Gonzalez also managed to get two assists in 2015.

Marinero was a first-team All-Foothill Conference selection for the position of midfielder last season as well as a second-team selection in 2014 for the Lady Roadrunners. She totaled six assists in 23 games and managed to get one goal as well. Marinero started all 23 of Rio Hondo’s games last season as well.

Marc Gordon will enter his seventh season as head coach at Ottawa University in Kansas. Ottawa University competes at the NAIA level and is a member of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Association. Gordon recently led the Braves to a 14-4 overall record.

After a great season from our Rio Hondo Women’s Soccer team last fall, who had an impressive overall record of 17-2-4 and scored a massive 50 goals in 23 games, it is no doubt that these three new signings will flourish at their new universities just like they did at Rio.

Head Coach Jennifer Tanaka has been a great coach for our Rio Hondo Women’s Soccer team and continues to have succesful seasons year after year, as well as helping her student athletes go on to play soccer and continue their education at the next level.

Rio Hondo College faculty and staff thank Head Coach Jennifer Tanaka for her hard work and dedication as well as honor Holguin, Gonzalez, and Marinero for their accomplishment in signing their national letters of intent to go on and continue to play soccer at four-year universities.