Women’s Soccer: Rio Hondo earns eighth consecutive United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award

Year-after-year, the Rio Hondo College women's soccer team continues to be recognized as one of the top programs in the nation on and off the field. Under the direction of head coach Jennifer Tanaka-Hoshijo, Rio Hondo was recently awarded its eighth consecutive Academic Team Award from United Soccer Coaches.

Rio Hondo has earned the Team Academic Award every year since 2013 (2013-2020). The eight-year streak is currently the second longest in the nation among community colleges (Butler CC, 13 years). Just seven California community college women's soccer teams received the award in 2020.

"It is an honor to be recognized by the United Soccer Coaches Association for a record eighth consecutive year as a Team Academic Award winner," said Tanaka-Hoshijo. "To achieve our team's regular goal to be nationally ranked in the top-20 for our play on the field and one of the top-two most recognized academic community college teams in the country is a credit to our student-athletes and the long days they spend studying, working, and training to earn this success on and off the field."

United Soccer Coaches, the largest soccer coaches association in the world, annually celebrates the academic achievements of high school and college soccer teams whose student-athletes collectively demonstrate a commitment to excellence in their studies over the course of a full academic year.

College Team Academic Award recipients are active members of the United Soccer Coaches College Services Program with a composite grade point average of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale for all players on the roster.

Six members of the 2019 women's soccer team transferred on to four-year programs: Serina Vargas (Cal Poly Pomona), Serena Rosas (Cal State LA), Vivian Viramontes (Cal State LA), Taly Jimenez (Cal State Northridge), Janelle Piriano (Texas), Tori Galindo (Eastern New Mexico University).

The Roadrunners, who were ranked as high as No. 10 in the nation, closed the 2019 season with a 15-2-3 overall record and went a perfect 8-0 in South Coast Conference play to capture the SCC championship. Last fall, Rio Hondo made its sixth consecutive postseason appearance.