Student-athletes from across the Santa Clarita Valley made the next step of their playing careers official by signing their national letters of intent on Wednesday.
“It does feel a little different,” said Santa Clarita Christian’s Chloe Edwards, who inked with California State University, Northridge for women’s soccer.
“It’s more exciting because I wanted to do this for so long. College soccer was a big dream. Paper and pen is huge for me,” she said.
Edwards is one of three area girls soccer players who signed on to play for CSUN. Hart High’s Kassie Matthews and Canyon High’s Alyssa Aguilar are the others.
Girls soccer: @CanyonSoccerG's Alyssa Aguilar signs with CSUN. pic.twitter.com/T2nelqFYJQ
— Signal Sports (@SignalSports) February 1, 2017
“We’re going to start a group chat,” Aguilar said. “It’ll be more comfortable going in with them and stepping in together.”
The Matadors are an NCAA Division 1 program and earned a regular season Big West Conference title this past season.
All three players mentioned that the combination of the program’s recent success and close proximity to home played a major factor in their decisions.
“They finished first in their conference, but it’s also close to home, so whenever they had a home game, I was able to watch them play and the game was such a fast pace,” Matthews said. “And the coaches after the game bring you in for locker talks and seem to be engaging with players.”
@SCCS_Athletics soccer player Chloe Edwards signed with @GoMatadors today. pic.twitter.com/DE4VmwGQkB
— Signal Sports (@SignalSports) February 1, 2017
The incoming freshmen will be joining Hart alumna Destinney Duron and Valencia alumna Jennifer Anderson at CSUN this summer.
Valencia had the largest group of signees in terms of women’s soccer with five players moving on to the next level.
“It’s a testament to their hard work and dedication to achieving their goal of continuing their passion for soccer,” said Vikings coach Kevin Goralsky.
Below is a list of SCV athletes who signed letters of intent. West Ranch will be officially announcing its signees in the spring and other area schools plan to host ceremony’s later in the school year.
Canyon
Girls soccer
Alyssa Aguilar – California State University, Northridge
Golden Valley
Girls soccer
Melissa Legunas – California State University, Monterrey Bay
Melissa Lagunas signs NLI to CSU Monterey Bay for Women's Soccer…???????? pic.twitter.com/14axztPdCe
— Golden Valley (@GVHSAthletics) February 1, 2017
Hart
Football
Nick Moore – Eastern Washington University
AJ Stanley – Southern Utah University
Girls soccer
Kassie Mathews – California State University, Northridge
Victoria Ryan – University of Louisiana, Lafayette
Taylor Scott – Cal Poly Pomona
SCCS
Girls soccer
Chloe Edwards – California State University, Northridge
Valencia
Girls soccer
Ashlyn Johnson – Rider University
Isabel Salvadori – California State University, Fullerton
Lauren Madero – Chico State
Becca Kysar – Stanislaus State
Kayla Kukaua – Domincan University of California