Tracking the grads: Soccer

Ciaran O’Brien — The 2006 Decatur grad is entering his sophomore season for the defending national champion University of California-Santa Barbara soccer team. O’Brien transfered to UCSB after playing his freshman season at the University of San Diego.

O’Brien was named the Big West Conference Co-Player of the Week for the week ending Sept. 16. O’Brien, who shares the award with Sule Anibaba of UC Davis, registered a goal and an assist in the Gauchos’ 2-1 overtime win over No. 3 SMU Friday and led the team with four shots against No. 28 New Mexico Sunday.

O’Brien scored his team-leading second goal of the season to give UCSB a 1-0 lead over the Mustangs in the 34th minute. After the Gauchos allowed a goal in the 83rd minute that forced overtime, O’Brien connected with Eric Avila, who netted the game-winner just 6:48 into the extra period as Santa Barbara won its second consecutive match.

O’Brien also led the Gauchos with four shots in Sunday’s 2-1 loss at the hands of New Mexico in the final game of the Nike/Crescent Financial Solutions Invitational.

In addition to leading the squad with two goals and five points, the transfer from the University of San Diego ranks second with 12 shots and six shots on goal through five games this season. This is O’Brien’s first-career Player of the Week award and the first for a Gaucho this season. UCSB secured the Big West’s weekly honor twice during its national championship season in 2006.

Amanda Font — The Decatur grad is playing her senior season at Western Washington University. Font, who enters her fourth year as a starter, was a second-team NSCAA all-West Region pick last season. She currently has two goals and one assist for the Vikings this year and has started all eight matches. Font has 16 career goals as a midfielder. The Vikings are currently 5-2-1 overall.

Lamar Neagle — The 2005 TJ grad is leading the University of Nevada Las Vegas in goals with two. UNLV is currently 2-3-1 overall. Neagle started 17 of the Rebels’ 18 matches last year and had four goals. He is a junior and plays forward.

Josh Norwood — The Decatur grad is playing his sophomore season at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. Norwood played his freshman season at the University of Connecticut, where he played in eight games for the Huskies. The midfielder has started all six games for the 3-3-0 49ers. He has one assist.

Lindsay Mitchell, Hannah Bridges and Michelle Mohn — The threesome are currently playing at Central Washington University. Mitchell and Bridges are Federal Way High School grads and Mohn went to TJ. Mitchell, a senior, is a forward and Bridges, a junior, and Mohn, a sophomore, are midfielders. Mitchell has started five matches this year and has one assist. Bridges has started all 10 matches and has two assists and Mohn has started two matches. Central is currently 3-5-2.

Mandy Ploskonka — The junior is playing midfield at Montana State-Billings after graduating from Federal Way High School. She has started all eight of their matches this season and has a team-high five goals. Montana State-Billings is 5-2-1 overall.

Kristen Johnson — The Decatur grad returns as the starting goalkeeper for the Sweet Briar College (Va.) soccer team. She has started all seven matches this season and is allowing 2.96 goals a game. Sweet Briar is 2-5-0 on the season.

Skyler Kimball — The TJ grad is now playing for Concordia University in Portland. He is a midfielder. Kimball currently has started three matches and has three shots on goal. Concordia is 6-2-0 and 4-0-0 in conference play.

Kaitlin Bennett — The Beamer graduate is playing her sophomore season at Mesa State in Colorado. Bennett is a goalkeeper and has started two matches and played in four this year. She hasn’t allowed a goal and has seven saves. Mesa State is 5-3-1 overall.

Ashlyn White — The Federal Way grad is playing her junior season at Jamestown College (ND). White is a forward.

Megan Price — The Federal Way grad is playing her junior year at Seattle University. The midfielder has one shot this season. Seattle U is currently 8-1-0 on the season and ranked 16th in the nation.

Steve Mohn — The 2003 TJ grad is out for the season and won’t play for the University of Washington during his senior year. Mohn suffered an injury during the summer. Last year, Mohn has played in 18 matches and had one goal and one assist. The Huskies played in the NCAA Tournament last year.

Nikki Mills — The Beamer graduate is currently playing her freshman season at Portland State University. Mills is a freshman goalkeeper.

Breanna Klasen and Cayla Dixon — The pair are playing for Saint Martin’s University in Lacey. Klasen is a Decatur grad and a goalkeeper and Dixon went to Federal Way as a defender. Klasen, a junior, has started seven games and Dixon, a freshman, has started six games. Saint Martin’s is currently 1-7-0.

Tracking the Grads appears periodically in the Mirror detailing the college careers of area student-athletes. Let us know if we missed anybody at sports@fedwaymirror.com

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