Last week in Philadelphia the National Soccer Coaches Association of America recognized Solano Community College student-athlete, Andrea Salvador, as their Division III Junior College National Player of the Year at its annual convention.  Both Andrea and her Solano College women's soccer coach, Jeff Cardinal, were at the convention for the ceremony.

“This is really overwhelming! My goal this year was to make all American, which I did, but this is such a great accomplishment. My dreams and wishes are coming true,” stated Andrea Salvador. “I selected Solano College, because they have a great soccer program and Coach Cardinal has been exceptional. He has really helped me and is one of the reasons I am receiving this award.”

The Solano women’s soccer program is just four years old. And while Andrea isn’t our first athlete named All-American – she is the first Solano student-athlete to be named National Player of the Year in any sport. Head coach, Jeff Cardinal, is very proud that his first All-American for women’s soccer is also the first to garner the national player status for Solano.

“Andrea is a great athlete. She has speed that is unmatched by many of the players she plays against. She is a goal scorer, who also has developed a great ability to find her teammates for scores. She is relentless in her play and her work rate either with or without the ball is impressive. She creates many problems for opposing teams, not only with her goal scoring abilities and speed, but also her ability to pressure and play defense,” stated Coach Jeff Cardinal. “This is a once in a lifetime award! This kind of recognition does not happen often, if ever, and I am very excited for Andrea and feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to coach her at Solano College”.

Andrea comes to Solano from Salesian High School. She and her twin sister Arielle, who is in her second season of basketball and played softball as well last spring, have both impacted the athletic programs at Solano. During her sophomore season, Andrea accumulated the stats to make it obvious why she has received the honors. Her single season scoring record is 26 goals and 14 assists for a total of 66 points; in ten of the matches, she scored at least two goals; and, in two of those ten – she scored four goals in each game. Her overall record at Solano is 40 goals and 22 assists.

In addition to her National Junior College Soccer Player of the Year award, she was also named 1st Team All-American, 1st Team All-Western-Region, 1st Team All-State, All Northern California Team, Bay Valley Conference Offensive MVP and a two-time All-Conference 1st Team selection.

Andrea will be moving on to Fresno State to play Division I soccer on a scholarship. Coach Cardinal knows he’s seen something special in Andrea’s playing and is very pleased to see her move on to that next level of competition while she completes her education.

Congratulations, Andrea!!!
 

Andrea Salvador - Player Biography
(# 11 Sophomore Forward)

Andrea Salvador, a 19-year-old sophomore forward team captain at Solano College in Fairfield, California had a record breaking season in 2005. Andrea broke all scoring records at Solano College as she scored 26 goals and added 14 assists for 66 total points, good enough for 3rd in the state of California in all three categories.

She helped lead the Solano College Women’s Soccer team to the Bay Valley Conference Championship in 2005 and into the playoffs. She had two 4-goal games against Northern California playoff teams and had 10 matches where she scored at least 2 goals. In her two seasons at Solano, Salvador scored 40 goals and tallied 22 assists.

In 2005, Andrea was awarded NSCAA Junior College Division III National Player of the Year, 1st Team All-American, 1st Team All Far West Region, 1st Team All State, All Northern California and MVP Offense for the Bay Valley Conference.

Andrea possesses exceptional speed, athleticism and work rate with and without the ball. She creates many problems for opposing teams with her ability to play both sides of the ball. She has great ability to score and a relentless work rate to pressure the ball and play defense. In addition, as her statistics show, she can finish and create scoring opportunities for her teammates.

Andrea resides in Rodeo, CA, and came to Solano College two years ago from Salesian High School in Richmond, CA.  At Salesian, she played four years of varsity soccer and was team captain and MVP both her junior and senior year. She was also MVP of the BSAL High School her junior year. She played club with Alameda Contra Costa Mavericks for Coach Jeff Lindquist.

Andrea was recruited by many Division one, two and three universities, both in California and out of state.  She has verbally committed to Fresno State University on a soccer scholarship where she will major in Kinesiology with aspirations to teach and coach soccer after her playing career is over. She is already in her second season coaching varsity high school soccer at Salesian High School in Richmond, CA.

Jeff Cardinal
Head Soccer Coach
Bob Myers
Dean of Physical Education and Athletics
Solano College