The MSJC women's soccer team will open their 2024 season at HCN Bank Stadium on the Menifee Campus Friday at 5 pm when they host Southwestern College.
The Eagles are coming off back-to-back play-off seasons and in 2023 the team posted an impressive 16-3-2 record. MSJC also advanced to the second round of the 3C2A Regional play-offs after knocking off El Camino in the first round. The victory over El Camino was the program's first post-season win since 2016 and their win total of 16 was the most for the program since 2015.
The Eagles return a strong core of sophomores to the 2024 team led by forward Belinda Jara, who as a freshman, was the team's leading scorer with 35 points. Jara who was named First Team All Inland Empire Athletic Conference last season netted 9 goals and had a team high 17 assists. Midfielder Leilani Aves also returns for her sophomore season after scoring 8 goals and making 5 assists a year ago, for her efforts she was named 2nd Team All IEAC. Kayla Garcia and Ava Berger also return after combining for 11 goals and 4 assists in 2023.
Berger, who also earned first team all-league honors last season, along with second team all-conference pick Stephanie Kenner will help anchor the Eagle defense who earned 12 of their 16 wins last season by shut out. The defense will also have the support of a pair of returning Goal Keepers in Ashlyn Goade and Daisy Reyes. Goade finished 2023 with 38 saves while allowing just 2 goals on the season earning herself second team All IEAC status. Reyes made 17 saves throughout the season.
These returning players, 10 sophomores in all, will be joined by a talented group of freshmen as the Eagles look to make a run at a conference title and a third straight post season appearance.
After Friday's opener the Eagles will travel to Mt. SAC and Palomar for a pair of matches before returning home Friday September 6th when they host Long Beach City College at 4 pm.
All Eagle home matches are played at HCN Bank Stadium on the Menifee Campus. The link below is to the complete 2024 women's soccer schedule.