Arizona Strikers FC
| Number | TBA |
|---|---|
| Position | Forward |
A 19 year old native of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, now residing in Tucson, Arizona, is a versatile and dynamic striker who can create and score up front, as well as being able to play in the midfield.
In 2012 Luz played for the Mexico U-17 team in the pre-World Cup matches in Guatamala while also travelling to Azerbaijan to play in the World Cup with the Mexico U-17’s.
In 2013, Luz would play in the National Olympics in Baja California, Mexico.
Last year, Luz found herself in Canada with the Mexican U-20 squad and in October played for the Mexican U-23 team in a World Cup qualifier in Pennsylvania, where she played 55 minutes in a 3-0 loss to the United States team.
| Number | TBA |
|---|---|
| Position | Goalkeeper |
The first goalkeeper to sign with the Arizona Strikers FC, is Esthefanny Barreras, an 18 year old, 5ft.10 native of Phoenix. Esthefanny is a dual citizen, USA/Mexico. Her international experience includes:
Esthefanny was between the posts last year in the Strikers inaugural season, racking up over 500 minutes in seven matches.
| Number | TBA |
|---|---|
| Position | Forward |
Elisa Paola Espino, a 19 year old native of Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico, started 10 games and logged over 800 minutes last year in the Strikers FC first season playing in the USL W-League.
Paola has played the last two years for Arizona Western College, earning All-Conference 2nd Team honors her freshman year, and 1st Team All -Conference honors as a sophomore, scoring 17 goals in her two years of college soccer. This coming fall, she will be transferring to the newly formed University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The school represents a merging of the University of Texas Pan-American and the University of Texas-Brownsville, and will play in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).
| Number | TBA |
|---|---|
| Position | Midfield |
A 21-year-old midfielder from Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico, currently playing for California State University Bakersfield, will once again wear the Strikers jersey this summer.
An All-Conference midfielder from Sahuaro High School (Tucson), Skinner’s club soccer career began with one of the Strikers’ Arizona youth soccer partners AZ Champions FC, and concluded playing two years with the Arizona Rush program.
Skinner started all 19 games, playing 1,642 minutes as a junior for the CSUB Roadrunners. She will return to play as a fifth-year senior, having redshirted this past season due to a bone fracture.
Due to university commitments, Skinner joined the Strikers halfway through the 2014 season, playing in six games of the 11-game season, scoring one goal while playing 500 minutes.
| Number | TBA |
|---|---|
| Position | Midfield |
Another returner from the Arizona Strikers FC 2014 squad is Russian born Marina Schachowskoj, a 27 year old midfielder who has extensive playing and coaching experience since emigrating to the USA in 1992. Last year Marina was a fixture in the Arizona Strikers midfield, playing in 10 games while logging almost 600 minutes on the pitch.
Marina holds USSF National “C”, “D”, and “E” licenses as well as the National Youth License. In 2012 she was awarded the New Mexico High School Association Coach of the Year award leading the Santa Fe Prep girls varsity to a winning season. Last year she began coaching the Phoenix Rush U-8 and U-12 girls Academy as well as being named as assistant coach for the junior college team, Phoenix College.
Marina holds a BS degree in Exercise Science from Guilford College in North Carolina.
| Number | TBA |
|---|---|
| Position | Midfield |
Taylor Wheeler, a 20 year native of Fullerton, California, will be entering her senior year at Cal State University Bakersfield where she has played the last three years. In her freshman year she started 18 of her 19 appearances and played primarily as a defender. In her 2013 season as a sophomore, she was selected to the WAC pre-season All Conference Team; a member of the College Sports Madness.com pre-season All WAC First Team, as well as being selected Academic All-Conference—starting every match on CSUB’s back line.
As a junior, Taylor scored 2 goals and had 8 assists primarily playing the outside mid position.
Taylor will arrive this spring to bolster coach Arias’ young squad, looking to entertain the fans in Yuma this summer.
| Number | TBA |
|---|---|
| Position | Defender |
One more player from last year’s inaugural squad have signed on again for the 2015 season.
Jessica Barton, a 19 year old Canadian mid/outside back, started all 11 games and played 990 minutes in the Arizona Strikers FC first year of W-League play.
When she was 15 years old, Jessica was invited to play for the Canadian Youth U-15 National team prior to moving to Arizona where she would play Arizona ODP. She played her freshman year in college at Grand Canyon University while transferring to Phoenix College for her sophomore year. At Phoenix College she was named to the All-ACCAC 1st Team following a season where she started every match and was named captain, scoring 8 goals and tallying 7 assists.
Next year, Jessica will play her junior year for Colorado State University, Pueblo.
