May 19, 2015
LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky women’s soccer program and head coach Jon Lipsitz announced the addition of Tanya Samarzich on Tuesday afternoon, a member of the Mexican Full Women’s National Team, and winner of the Golden Boot in the 2014 CONCACAF U-20 Championships.
The Upton, Calif., native will be eligible immediately, as she is transferring in from the University of Southern California. In her one year with the Trojans, she appeared in 14 games, scoring three goals on 17 shots, including two game-winning goals. She played 641 minutes on the pitch, and started two games.
Samarzich was a critical part of the Mexican National Team’s qualification for the World Cup this summer, as she participated in the World Cup qualifiers from Oct. 14-26 to help get El Tri into its third-straight Women’s World Cup.
Samarzich was named to the 2015 Women’s World Cup squad for Mexico and would be participating had it not been for a foot injury that ended her chances of competing this summer in Canada. The injury happened in a pre-World Cup scrimmage against the host country, Canada. At 20 years old, she is the third-youngest member of the Mexican National Team’s active roster.
In the CONCACAF U-20 World Championships held in the Cayman Islands, she won the Golden Boot for the tournament, as she netted hat-tricks in Mexico’s first two games, helping her side set a new team record for most goals scored in a single CONCACAF World Championship with 22, four more than its previous high. As a winner of the Golden Boot, she joins United States internationals, Sydney Leroux and Kelley O’Hara, who will both be making the trip to Canada this summer for the Women’s World Cup representing the US Women’s National Team.
Samarzich was an all-league first team selection in high school at Upland and was named the 2013 Inland Valley Player of the Year after appearing in 72 games her high school career, scoring a whopping 91 goals and charting 52 assists in those 72 games. Her club team was Legends FC, where she played under the direction of head coach Josh Hodges.
Samarzich’s Mexican National Team Appearances
August 2014
-U-20 International Friendly in Mexico City vs. Canada andUSA
-FIFA U20sWomen’s World Cup
-Women’s Mexican National Team Training Camp
September 2014
-Women’s Mexican National Team training camp
-Women’s Mexican National Team InternationalFriendly against the USA
-Women’s Mexican National Team training camp
October 2014
-2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying
April 2015/May 2015
-Women’s Mexican National team training camp inAcapulco
-Women’s Mexican National Team International friendly’s inCalifornia vs. Canada and USA
-Women’s Mexican National Team training camp May
June 2015
-Women’s Mexican National Team, FIFA Women’s World Cup, Canada
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