Feb. 8, 2016
SDSU Women's Soccer Signing Class
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State women's soccer head coach Mike Friesen announced Monday the signing of five standouts to National Letters of Intent. The quintet of Isabelle Cartagena, Ariana Robles, Meghan Scudero, Rachel Speros and Darcy Weiser is set to arrive on campus prior to the fall semester and be ready to compete in 2016.
"We feel like we have a very good class, including our mid-year players," Friesen said. "We added some quality to the team and didn't lose much from last year. With players coming back from injury, the group that is returning and this class, we feel we are ready to go after our fifth straight Mountain West (regular-season) title and make a run at the NCAA tournament."
Cartagena, who is an athletic wide player with a great work rate, inks with the Aztecs out of Tempe, Arizona and Corona Del Sol High School. A four-year varsity team member, Cartagena helped Corona Del Sol reach the state playoffs all four seasons and was an all-Tribune Honorable Mention defender as a sophomore and junior. Following her junior campaign, Cartagena was named an AzPreps365 Division I Section III second-team pick and a Division I state honorable mention performer, as well as a Tempe all-city team choice. The defender, who has experience with the Arizona ODP Pool and State Team the last two years, also plays for Sereno '98 ECNL.
When not on the pitch, Cartagena has found herself on the track as a varsity member of the track and field squad. She has been a state finalist on the 4x100 relay team the last three years, the 4x400 relay in two of the last three seasons (3rd place in 2015) and the 4x800 relay as a freshman. Cartagena and her 4x400 relay team also hold the school record in the event with an effort of 3:54.87.
Cartagena on why she chose SDSU: "It's a great school with a great soccer program. I attended two ID camps and knew it was a good fit, and it's geographically close to home."
Robles, a San Diego native, has officially decided to stay close to home to continue her soccer career. Currently at Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, the first-team all-CIF selection helped the Titans win the 2013 CIF championship and has played for the ultra-successful San Diego Surf ECNL Under-17 team. As a member of the Surf, the defender guided the team to a No. 1 national ranking, conference title in 2013 and national title in 2014. Robles is a very good 1v1 defender who is technical and likes to get up and down the flank.
Robles on why she chose SDSU: "San Diego State University is a beautiful campus and I fell in love with everything that is offered at the school. I chose to be an Aztec because of the academic program, but also because of the women's soccer program. They have amazing facilities with well-respected coaches that have created a family-like atmosphere."
Scudero, who is a technical and intelligent wide player that can play in the back or up top, will head south to San Diego State from her hometown of San Jose where she is currently attending Leland High School. A four-year varsity team member and three-year captain, Scudero plays her club ball with MVLA Pride ECNL. The forward/defender has ODP experience with the CalNorth State and Region IV teams where she was team captain and participated at the U.S. Soccer Training Center. Scudero also boasts PDP experience with CalNorth and has been invited to Norcal Premier PDP camps.
Scudero on her decision to sign with the Aztecs: "SDSU has always been my top choice. It offers the competitive academics that I am looking for, and I love the program Coach Mike Friesen and his staff have established. I look forward to being a part of that culture."
A midfielder from Danville, Speros will join Scudero on their trek south from Northern to Southern California. While at San Ramon Valley High School, the EBAL all-league selection helped the Wolves to the 2014 NCS Division I finals after guiding her club team, Mustang ECNL '97, to the 2012 ECNL national quarterfinals. A team captain for both San Ramon Valley and Mustang ECNL '97, Speros gained national team experience by participating at the USSF National Training Center, being in the PDP G98 State Team Pool and earning an invitation to the 2015 Nike National Training Camp. A 2016 National Top-150 Player by Top Drawer Soccer, Speros also excelled in the classroom, earning CIF-NCS Scholar-Athlete accolades. Speros is a great holding midfielder who is a ball-winner, is good on the ball and can cover a lot of ground, which will make an impact in the midfield.
Speros on why she chose to sign with San Diego State: "I decided to go to SDSU because of the wide range of academic programs, the amazing campus and the outstanding academics. I chose it especially because of the soccer program. I admire their style of play, the dedicated coaches and the strong bond among the team. I can't wait to be a part of it all!"
Weiser is set to make the short trip south to Montezuma Mesa from her hometown of Huntington Beach. As a forward at Huntington Beach High School, Weiser is a three-year all-Sunset League first-team performer and was named the league's MVP last season as a junior. A scholar-athlete and Sunset League all-academic team choice, Weiser competes for Irvine Strikers U18 ECNL on the club circuit. Weiser is a pacey wide player that will add to the team's attack and has a nice touch on services.
Weiser on signing her National Letter of Intent with San Diego State: "It offered many academic opportunities that I am interested in. I fell in love with the campus as soon as I walked onto it. I loved how the campus is so close to the beach and city, and is still a college town. The more time I spent at SDSU and the more time I spent talking to the coaching staff, the more I knew it was my No. 1 school I wanted to attend. I am beyond excited to be a part of the Aztec Women's Soccer family!"
The group of five signees will join a San Diego State program that has enjoyed the most successful four-year run in school history. Over the last four seasons, the Aztecs won 64 games, which broke the previous school record of 60 victories, won four straight Mountain West regular-season titles, captured three MW Championship crowns and advanced to three NCAA tournaments.
The newly inked Aztecs also join three newcomers that are already on campus in junior transfer Nicole Robertson and true freshmen Bailey Cook and Camryn Wendlandt.
In 2016, the Aztecs are scheduled to return 40 of their 41 goals from a season ago (97.6 percent), 33 of their 35 assists (94.3 percent) and 113 of their 117 points (96.6 percent).