SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Senior soccer player Ariana Avila will sign to attend and play soccer at Fresno Pacific on soccer’s National Signing Day on Wednesday, Feb. 1. Avila will participate in a ceremony at St. Francis at 9 a.m.

“I have committed to Fresno Pacific University,” said Avila. “The coach emailed me out of nowhere after seeing me play in a tournament. He invited me to his camp and I toured the campus. It had everything I wanted in a home for college. He offered me on the spot.”

Avila, who lives in Rescue, is playing her second season on the St. Francis varsity this season. She has one goal and nine assists over 34 games. She also had seven goals and 11 assists as a sophomore on the junior varsity team. She also played basketball during her freshman season on the JV team.

“She is a captain,” said Head Coach Maryclaire Robinson. “She came to us as a forward. I converted her to an outside back and now she is starting midfielder. Ari can play anywhere. She is hard, effective and has a huge work rate. She is completely open to anything you ask. She is a classic captain who leads by example.”

Avila has helped the Troubadours to 10-3-3 mark this season with a 6-1-1 record in the Delta League.

“She is a great worker,” said Robinson. “Technically, she is sound and she can shoot from range. I am just waiting for her to just get one and crack it from 35 yards out. She has pace and is physical and smart with a good soccer IQ. They are going to enjoy her.”

Avila will play for Head Coach Rob Podeyn, who just completed his second season leading the Sunbirds. Fresno Pacific tied for the best record in program history in his first season and has posted the winningest two-year stretch after going 9-6-1 in 2016.

 “Ever since I was little, I have wanted to play in college and worked towards that and continuing my education in a Catholic setting,” said Avila, who plans to study kinesiology and hopes to become an athletic trainer or physical therapist. “Fresno Pacific has that so I am excited for it.”

Fresno Pacific is the largest accredited Christian university in Central California and has emerged as a leading west coast university known for academic excellence, innovative programming and spiritual vitality.  The Sunbirds are a Division II school in the Pacific West Conference with14 members with locations in Hawaii, California, Utah and Arizona. 

The St. Francis Signing Day event will be shown online on TroubieTV.