Amaya Espardinez

Photo by: Isabella Quinn-Rodriguez

Height:
5-4
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Camarillo, CA
High School:
Rancho Campana HS
Position:
D
Major:
Marine Biology

2024 Season – Sophomore
Appeared in 18 games for the Banana Slugs as a Defender, starting in eight… Recorded two assists… Played 1,004 minutes on the season…A part of the program's first C2C Championship in history, following a 2-0 victory against No. 2 ranked Christopher Newport University, who entered the game on an 84 game unbeaten streak

2023 Season - First Year
Played in all 19 games with 14 starts. Had 4 goals and 4 assists, scoring her first career goal on September 26 against Lincoln.

HIGH SCHOOL: Three-time Coastal Canyon All League First Team (2021-2023) at Rancho Campana High School. Newcomer of the Year (2020-2021), Most Versatile Player (2021-2022), Pursuing Victory with Honor Award (2022-2023). Academic Achievement Award all four years.
Played Club ball for LAFC SoCal Youth ECNL, same club as fellow Banana Slugs Caitlin Walters and Amelia Brown.

PERSONAL: She chose UCSC because of "its strong academics and beautiful campus."
Says her parents are the most influential people in her life because "they have always demonstrated what hard work and persistence looks like, allowing me to get to where I am today!" Off the field likes to go hiking, paddle boarding, and hanging out with friends.