Sydney Marin signs soccer letter of intent with Soka University

After the 2014-15 high school girls soccer season ended, Valley League coaches named Ramona High School senior Sydney Marin to the all-league second team.

Marin obtained another soccer honor during her senior year. On May 4, she signed a letter of intent to play collegiate soccer at Soka University.

“I’m super excited and happy that all of my hard work paid off,” Marin said. “I really wanted to play soccer in college.”

Marin received an athletic partial scholarship to Soka University, which is in Aliso Viejo and is affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. The Lions had a 7-10 record in 2014, setting a team record for victories in a season.

Soka has had women’s soccer since 2009-10 and is part of the California Pacific Conference.

“I’m excited for her,” said coach Deena Vizcarra. “She’s worked hard to get here.”

A lifelong Ramona resident who attended James Dukes Elementary School and Olive Peirce Middle School before her four years at Ramona High School, Marin began her soccer career with a Ramona Intra club under-8 team. She then played club soccer for Arsenal and for Carlsbad United.

“She’s definitely played at the competitive level,” Vizcarra said.

Marin was on Ramona’s varsity for all four of her high school seasons and was a starter for three years. She was a defender for the Bulldogs.

“Overall it was a great experience and I really enjoyed it,” she said.

Marin was also considering the California State University campuses in Dominguez Hills and San Marcos.

“Soka was my number one school and we were waiting to see if I was accepted,” she said. “I was accepted and I couldn’t say no.”

She received notice of her acceptance in April.

“It was close to home and a small school, so it was perfect for me, and the campus is beautiful,” she said.

Marin plans to major in psychology and hopes to work with military veterans and other post-traumatic stress disorder victims. Her maternal grandfather is a veteran. Her mother is a psychologist who works with PTSD victims at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.

“I kind of got my interest from her,” Marin said.

Marin is one of four Bulldog seniors with college soccer plans for the future. On Feb. 4, Kacie Jordan signed a letter of intent to play college soccer at Colorado Mesa University. Ceci Estrada and Sydney Schmidt will see playing time on the Miramar College team.

“This year was a special group of girls. They were all highly competitive players,” Vizcarra said.

Ramona’s 2014-15 roster included 12 seniors.