CARSON - Cal State Dominguez Hills women's soccer head coach Marine Cano has announced 13 additions to his 2018 roster in Kelly Almazon, Vanessa Campos, Chrystal Dorado, Deja Erickson, Maileena Faaita, Naomi Graham, Taylor Herm, Ryah Montano, Alyssa Newsom, Madeleine Simones, Macy Sorenson, Peyton Watson and Briana Zepeda. Almazon, Campos, Erikson, Faaita, Graham, Montano, Newsom, Sorenson, Watson and Zepeda will enter as freshman, Simones a sophomore, and Herm and Dorado will don the cardinal and gold in the fall as juniors.
 
Kelly Almazan
Position: Midfielder/Defender
Hometown: Westminister
Previous School: Westminister HS
Club: CDA Slammers FC - Huntington Beach
• Three-time All-Golden West League First Team
• All-CIF Southern Section First Team
Cano on Almazan: "Kelly has work ethic, pace and tenacious defending. She loves to work hard and consistently wins 50-50 balls. She is someone we can count on to stabilize our defensive unit. As time goes on she will improve on her attacking skills. Kelly has an opportunity to see a lot of action in 2018."
 
Vanessa Campos
Position: Defender/Midfielder
Hometown: Westminister
Previous School: Westminister HS
Club: CDA Slammers FC - Huntington Beach
• All-Golden West League First Team and MVP
• All-CIF Southern Section First Team
• All-Orange County Second Team
Cano on Campos: "Vanessa is a great addition. I recruited her to play on the right side of the field; either as a right back or right wing half. She possesses speed, which I want in every position. She'll be able to handle top players in the CCAA with her speed, reading of the game, and aggressiveness at ball winning. Her only weakness will be to adapt to the aggressiveness of college soccer."
 
Chrystal Dorado
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Bell
Previous Schools: Santa Monica College/Bell HS
Club: Norwalk FC
• Two-time Western State Conference South Division First Team
• 2017 Western State Conference South Division Champions
• Five goals and 10 assists in two seasons at Santa Monica College
Cano on Dorado: "Chrystal is an attacking center midfielder and is very offensive-minded. She is someone who can dribble and cut players on a full sprint run. It is the type of player that I have been hoping for since becoming the head coach at CSUDH."
 
Deja Erickson
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Las Vegas, Nev.
Previous School: Arbor View HS
Club: Las Vegas Albion
• Three-time NIAA 4A State Champions
• Two-time NIAA All-State First Team
• Nevada Gatorade State Player of the Year nominee
Cano on Erickson: "Deja was one of our top recruits for 2018 and we look forward for her impact on this program in the future. She is a very strong attacking player that can dribble, cut defenders and shoot on-goal from anywhere. She is a very good attacking center-midfield type of player."
 
Maileena Faaita
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Hometown: Torrance
Previous School: North HS
Club: Beach FC /LA Galaxy DPL
• Four-time All-Pioneer League honoree
• 2018 Pioneer League champions
Cano on Faaita: "Maileena can play at the attacking center midfield or forward spot. She is good on defense, a ball winner, very aggressive on the press and will get our team into transition for offense right away. I'm looking for her to get points for us to win games."
 
Naomi Graham
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Torrance
Previous School: Torrance HS
Club: LA Galaxy Academy
• Three-time All-Pioneer League honoree
Cano on Graham: "Naomi comes from a very good Galaxy organization. She has a great club coach who has taught her how to play at a high level. She is very good at connecting passes and she will hold the ball for us in tough games. I will bring her in to try to be the top playmaker for the Lady Toros."
 
Taylor Herm
Position: Defender
Hometown: Redondo Beach
Previous School: El Camino College/Concordia Irvine/Redondo Beach HS
Club: Beach FC
• 2017 All-South Coast Conference South Division First Team at El Camino College
• Compiled three goals and two assists in 2017
Cano on Herm: "Taylor is a defender I brought in to help rebuild our defensive unit and can play both right and left back. Her experience, after playing for El Camino, will give us added depth at both of those positions. What I like about Taylor is she works hard, is fit and loves to compete. She will definitely help us win games."
 
Ryah Montano
Position: Goalkeeper
Hometown: Newport Beach
Previous School: Newport Harbor HS
Club: Newport Slammers FC
Cano on Montano: "We're bringing in Ryah to help bolster the goalkeeper position, as we need depth. She will provide that with her athletic ability and will improve very quickly with my training."
 
Alyssa Newsom
Position: Goalkeeper
Hometown: Menifee
Previous School: Heritage HS
Club: Murrieta Surf SC
• Two-time Sunbelt League MVP
• Three-time Sunbelt League First Team
Cano on Newsom: "Alyssa is someone we are very happy about bringing in. She is a very good goalkeeper with great hands, footwork and bravery. Alyssa comes from a very good club team, where she excelled, and is willing to work hard to continue to grow. I am looking forward to training her because she is our future in the goal."
 
Madeleine Simones
Position: Forward
Hometown: Redondo Beach
Previous School: El Camino College/Rolling Hills Prep
Club: Strikers FC
• 2017 All-South Coast Conference South Division First Team
• Compiled 12 goals with one assist in 20 games
Cano on Simones: "Maddy is a center forward, which is sorely needed here at The Hills as I am currently building a program around goal scorers. She was very successful at El Camino College and we are counting on her to do the same here."
 
Macy Sorenson
Position: Defender
Hometown: Long Beach
Previous School: Wilson HS
Club: Greater Long Beach Fury
• 2018 Moore League champions
Cano on Sorenson: "Macy is someone I need right away to help us at the center back position. She is a tenacious worker, reads the game well and is an overall great athlete. Macy is a diverse player and will add to our depth with a lot of talent"
 
Peyton Watson
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Rancho Cucamonga
Previous School: Los Osos HS
Club: SC Corinthians USA
• 2018 CIF Southern Section Division I Quarterfinalists
Cano on Watson: "Peyton could be the answer to our left-sided attack for The Hills. She has great pace, aggressiveness and can set up goals. Peyton plays non-stop and tries to make good things happen for her team. She will be fighting for a spot at the left wing-half position"
 
Briana Zepeda
Position: Defender
Hometown: Oceanside HS
Previous School: Mission Vista HS
Club: LA Galaxy SD Academy
• Three-time All-Palomar League honoree
Cano on Zepeda: "Briana is a much-needed defender. She is a good one-on-one defender, man-to-man marker and will add to our aggressiveness as a team. She will have an opportunity to battle for one of the outside back positions."