LATHROP — Cydney Garcia has been described as an elite defender for the Lathrop High girls’ soccer squad.
She’s also had to overcome her share of injuries to get to Thursday’s special signing day held on her behalf.
Garcia, who plays center back, will playing soccer collegiately for Notre Dame de Namur in Belmont this fall.
“She has the spirit of a warrior — even though she’s a Spartan,” said Lathrop coach Jose Montes, who has team on the verge of making the playoffs with a 7-3 mark in the Western Athletic Conference, 9-7-1 overall.
He credits Garcia for her hard work and perseverance.
“Most people might have quit, but not Cydney — she leads by example,” Montes added.
Garcia made a campus visit to Notre Dame de Namur and was impressed with the coaches — Paul McCallion is the head coach and BJ Noble is the school’s Director of Soccer — the program and the atmosphere.
“It just felt like home,” she said of the quaint setting of the private Bay Area university.
Garcia is looking to major in Psychology.
The Notre Dame de Namur Argonauts play in the NCAA Division II Pacific West Conference.
According to her Garcia’s mother Natascha, her daughter was also accepted to Holy Cross and Stanislaus State, both of the PacWest, along with nearby Pacific and St. Mary’s College.
Cydney Garcia does have one familiar face currently playing for the Argonaut — freshman defender Samantha Berryhill from Modesto’s Beyer High.
“We played together for the Manteca Rangers,” she said.
Cydney was joined on her signing day in the Lathrop High Career Center by her folks, Natascha and Vince, older sister Allie and younger brother Andrew.
Montes, along with Central Valley Surf Soccer Club coach Vince Meyer, teammates and administrators that included Principal Greg Leland and Vice Principal/Athletic Director Chuck Selna were also there for Garcia’s special day.
“I’m a little nervous,” she said prior to inking her letter of intent.