The 2016 women's soccer season proved to be another successful one for Rio Hondo College on the field as the Roadrunners won a conference championship and advanced to the second round in the playoffs, but also in the classroom. Head coach Jennifer Tanaka-Hoshijo and her staff continue to stress the importance of being a well-rounded student-athlete, including academically. And for the fourth consecutive year, Rio Hondo earned a Team Academic Award from United Soccer Coaches (formerly National Soccer Coaches Association of America).
To qualify for the award, a team must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) to be eligible.
Transferring players on to the next level is also a huge goal for the women's soccer program and Tanaka-Hoshijo was proud to announce a 100 percent transfer rate from her 2016 sophomore class. Four of those six sophomores also earned California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Scholar-Athlete Awards.
Moving on from the 2016 squad were Melissa Gonzales (New Mexico Highlands University), Graciela Lopez (New Mexico Highlands), Erika Lizarraga (Cal State Los Angeles), Daisy Gallegos (Hope International University), Zaira Hernandez (Jackson State University), and Jenny Garcia (Missouri Valley College).
On the soccer field, the Roadrunners compiled a 14-2-5 overall record and went 5-0-3 in South Coast Conference North Division play to earn a conference championship in Rio Hondo's first season as a member of the SCC. The Roadrunners advanced to the second round of the Southern California Regional Playoffs.
Also during the championship run, Tanaka-Hoshijo earned her milestone 100th career victory at the college.