WOMEN'S SOCCER STANDOUT JOANNA IDOM COMMITS TO CALIFORNIA BAPTIST
8/15/2005 4:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- California Baptist women's soccer head coach Colleen Kelly has announced the signing of high school soccer standout Joanna Idom.
Idom, a recent graduate of Esperanza High in Anaheim, Calif., will redshirt the 2005 season.
“We are thrilled that Joanna has decided to come to California Baptist,” said Kelly. “She will be an integral piece that will help us get back to the place we want to be?competing for a national championship.”
A 3-time All-CIF Division I and All-Sunset League selection, Idom holds Esperanza records for most goals in a career (49) and most goals in a season (20). This past season, she led the Aztecs to the CIF playoffs for the fourth straight year and was named to the Orange County Register All-County team.
Idom originally committed to NCAA Division I Pepperdine, but opted out and decided on California Baptist. She elected Pepperdine over the likes of NCAA Division I women's soccer powers Portland, Santa Clara, USC and UCLA.
A member of the Cal South ODP team and Region IV ODP team since 2001, Idom was a member of the 2004 USYSA ODP Regional and National Championship squad, while also participating with the older 86 ODP team in their Regional ODP Championship in 2005.
“Considering the types of programs that were after her?Pepperdine, Portland, UCLA?we consider ourselves fortunate to have her as a part of our program,” said Kelly. “She is a difference maker and will take our program to the next level. Her experience at the state and regional Olympic Development Programs will certainly raise the bar for our players.”
California Baptist is coming off a 10-7 campaign in which it missed the playoffs for the first time since 1997. The Lancers were coming off their first-ever NAIA Tournament appearance in 2003 where they advanced to the quarterfinals. The Lancers return 12 players from last year's team.
