The Spokane Shine have announced the addition of a pair of forwards to their 2012 Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) roster. Joining the Eastern Washington team are Julissa Rodriguez of New Mexico Highlands University and Taryn McClendon from Scottsdale Community College in Arizona.
Newcomer McClendon brings an extra dash of youth to the team. The 2011 Cactus Shadows High School graduate racked up four straight All-Region first team appearances as a Falcon. She also played club soccer for the Serrano Soccer Club of Arizona, helping to lead her team to a second place finish at the 2011 Las Vegas College Showcase.
In her first year at Scottsdale Community College, McClendon helped the team to a second place finish at nationals and was MVP of the Region 1 tournament while scoring 5 goals at the national tournament. McClendon finished her freshman season at SCC with 20 goals and 10 assists in 23 games.
Rodriguez returns for her second run with Spokane and will match up with fellow Cowgirl Alyssa Saucedo, who signed earlier this year. A graduating senior, Rodriguez closed out her NMHU career by being named to her third NCAA Division II All-American team. She also received her second consecutive Division II Central Region Player of the Year award. The 2011 RMAC Pre-Season Player of the Year scored 16 goals and made 8 assists for 40 points on the season. The Kennewick, Wash., native is NMHU’s all-time leading scorer with 32 goals in only two years at the school.
“Julissa will be staying in Spokane versus trying to commute from the Tri-Cites as she did last summer,” said Shine Head Coach Jason Quintero. “She is in form and really enjoying her soccer, which should be huge for us.”
Shine will open their season on the road against Eugene Metro FC on June 1 and Oregon Rush on June 2. The team will return to Joe Albi Stadium on Friday, June 8, when they host Issaquah FC. Spokane plays in the Northwest Division of the WPSL under the direction of head coach Quintero. In two years with Shine, Quintero has led the team to an overall 12-10-2 record and two second-place finishes.
