U18 SPL Ziyana Samanani signs with Rice University
Posted on: February 14, 2018
For Immediate Release
Wednesday Feb. 7th, 2018
U18 SPL Centre-Back, Ziyana Samanani, signed to play for Rice University in Houston, Texas.
Coquitlam Metro-Ford Soccer Club’s U18 SPL has produced multiple players that will move onto collegiate soccer both in Canada and the United States. A unique situation for the club this year has been Alberta import, Ziyana Samanani. The near 6’0ft centre-back moved from Calgary to the lower mainland in her grade 11 year with the singular focus of playing for a quality youth club that could help her gain a scholarship to a high ranking NCAA Division 1 varsity program.
She chose CMFSC as the place to hone her game skills that has resulted in an athletic scholarship to one of North America’s top private institutions, Rice University. The Owls soccer program, located in Houston, Texas competes in Conference USA. This recent 2017 season saw the program win the regular season conference title, being selected into the NCAA tournament, while reaching a high of #25 in the Division 1 rankings during the season.
U18 SPL head coach Jeremy Low notes: "Ziyana brings a drive and determination to improve everything she does. She is a leader whose intensity, grit and competitiveness pushes her forward and inspires those around her. She is a great player and an even better teammate." On her recruiting trip, Ziyana was inspired by the passion both the players and coaching staff showed for the game and quickly this as the next step in her soccer journey.
She will be expected to compete for a starting position on arrival, likely having to run through pre-season two-adays in a sweltering August in Houston while managing the rigors of being enrolled in classes alongside other straight A students. We are confident Ziyana will do a phenomenal job representing Coquitam Metro-Ford Soccer and blaze a trail for the next generation of club players.
For more information on the collegiate program for Coquitlam Metro-Ford Soccer Club, email collegiate@cmfsc.ca
