Sport Clubs News

The Women's Club Soccer team defeated University of Southern California 3-1 in the Open Cup National Championships February 23, 2019. Their win improved on the previous season's outcome when the team made it into quarter finals.

Turn back the clock to last fall when the preliminary rounds of the Open Cup Nationals were played in Foley, Alabama across 20 fields with club teams from all over the country. The Aztecs made it to the finals against USC, however, severe lightning caused the game to be cancelled. The two Southern California teams agreed to postpone the championship game and instead play the final two-and-a-half months later at a neutral site on the UC Irvine campus.

Four SDSU players were honored by being named to the all-tournament team: senior goalkeeper Rubi Mena, sophomore midfielder Summer Slough, junior defender Makenna Rubenstein and sophomore midfielder Gabrielle Root. Sophomore forward Ellen Smolarski was named most valuable player of the tournament. Smolarski was proud of her accomplishment but credited her teammates. Cohesion is how the team works.

Co-Captain and goalkeeper Rubi Mena says, "The team is very bonded now. We are all committed to winning and we have each other's back."

According to Mena, this was a huge win over USC. The two teams play in the same league and during the regular season the Aztecs had beaten them 2 - 1. "They were coming for revenge at the Open Cup Nationals," says Mena.

For Mena getting on the Women's Club Soccer team took a second effort in her freshman year, but she is glad she made the extra effort! Since the age of six, soccer had always a big part of her life and she learned about the club team at the Aztec Recreation ARC 'til DARK event. She went to the try-out but did not get the nod in fall semester. Despite being nervous, she tried out again in the spring that year and when she made the team on her second tryout, she felt complete. "Everyone was very welcoming, like a new family, " says Mena.

The team now has 22 members and will be retaining most of the athletes next year. After the recent win in Irvine, this team feels unstoppable.

Associated Students established the Sport Club program in 1961 and since then it has grown to include 20 diverse and highly competitive teams and over 700 athletes. Teams represent SDSU in intercollegiate competitions at regional, state and national levels. Each club team is developed, organized, and managed by student leaders with guidance from the Aztec Recreation Competitive Sports administrators.