Women’s Soccer Program Produces Olympians and Pros

Torero Alumna Michaela Foster Joins Olympic Ranks:

University of San Diego women's soccer program celebrates another milestone as alumna Michaela Foster secures a spot on the New Zealand national women's soccer team for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Initially selected as a travel reserve, Foster's Olympic dreams were fully realized when she was promoted to the active roster following a teammate's injury.

This Olympic selection adds to Foster's already impressive international career. The Hamilton, New Zealand native previously represented her country in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, showcasing her talents on the global stage. Her journey in international soccer began early, as she was part of New Zealand's U-20 squad at the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.

Foster's professional career has been equally noteworthy. She has been a stalwart for Wellington Phoenix FC in Australia's top-flight league for several years, honing her skills and contributing to the team's success. Her performances at the club level have translated into consistent national team call-ups, with Foster now boasting 13 caps for New Zealand. In a recent highlight of her international career, she netted her first goal for the national team against Samoa during an OFC Olympic qualifying match in February.

During her time at USD, Foster was a key figure in the Toreros' defense, anchoring the back line while also contributing offensively, particularly from the penalty spot. Her collegiate experience laid a strong foundation for her professional and international success.

Looking ahead to the Olympics, Foster and the New Zealand team face a challenging group stage. They have been drawn into Group A alongside host nation France, Canada, and Colombia, setting the stage for some thrilling matches.

Former Torero Olivia Stone Makes NWSL Debut with Washington Spirit:

In an exciting development for San Diego women's soccer, recent alumna Olivia Stone has taken her first steps into professional soccer. The Washington Spirit of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) signed Stone as a national team replacement player, culminating in her professional debut this past Sunday.

Stone, who hails from Austin, Texas, joined the Spirit last Thursday and wasted no time making her mark. She earned her first professional start on Sunday in a high-profile matchup against Chivas Femenil, a Liga MX Femenil side from Mexico, as part of the 2024 NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup. The Spirit emerged victorious with a 2-1 win, making Stone's debut all the more memorable.

During her final year at the University of San Diego, Stone proved to be a valuable asset to the Toreros. She featured in all 18 matches, starting 17 of them, and even contributed a goal. Her consistent performances led to her being named an All-WCC Honorable Mention, recognizing her significant impact on the team.

Stone's transition to the NWSL continues a proud tradition of San Diego's women's soccer program producing top-tier talent. This legacy is exemplified by current assistant coach Jackie Altschuld, herself a former Torero, who enjoyed a stint with San Diego Wave FC during her professional career.

Looking ahead, Stone and the Washington Spirit are set to continue their 2024 Summer Cup campaign this Sunday, facing off against NJ/NY Gotham FC in what promises to be another exciting fixture.

Olé Foundation Partners with USD Baseball for Inaugural Fundraising Event

The Olé Foundation is excited to announce its partnership with the University of San Diego Baseball program. As the Torero Baseball program aims to build on its impressive track record, the Olé Foundation is committed to assisting the team in attracting and retaining key talent crucial to its continued success.

In line with this mission, we are proud to introduce the First Annual Sandbagger Golf Tournament. This innovative fundraising event is the collaborative brainchild of USD Head Baseball Coach Brock Ungricht and dedicated USD Baseball donor, John Gentillon.

Mark your calendars for November 4th, as we invite you to join us at the prestigious Fairbanks Ranch Country Club for this exciting inaugural event. The tournament promises to be a day of friendly competition, networking, and support for USD Baseball.

This partnership and event represent a significant step in bolstering the resources available to our talented student-athletes and coaching staff. We look forward to seeing our Torero community come together to support the baseball program's bright future.

Don't miss this opportunity to contribute to USD Baseball's continued excellence while enjoying a day on one of San Diego's finest golf courses. We eagerly anticipate your participation in what is sure to become a cherished annual tradition.

WHERE TOREROS OWN THEIR FUTURE…

For our next alumni spotlight, we caught up with USD Baseball Alum, PJ Conlon (‘15)!

Here’s a breakdown of our conversation:

My name is PJ Conlon. I was born in Belfast, Ireland but moved to California at the age of 2, and I was a member of the Torero baseball team from 2013-2015. While at USD, I was lucky enough to be a part of some great teams that included winning the inaugural West Coast Conference Tournament in 2013, as well as claiming the regular season WCC Title in 2015. During my USD career I was honored to be named to the 2013 & 2015 All-WCC 1st Team and the 2014 WCC All Academic team, as well as a 2013 Freshman All-American, and a 2013 Third Team All-American. After my junior year, I was drafted in the 13th round by the New York Mets and made the tough decision to forego my senior year and sign professionally. I ended up playing pro ball from 2015-2019 and made my MLB debut in 2018. After I decided to retire from baseball, I returned to USD to finish my Marketing Degree and received my diploma in 2021.

What is your favorite memory as a Torero athlete? 

I look back on my time at USD with such fondness that it is tough to choose just one. If I had to choose a single memory, it would probably be winning the 2013 West Coast Conference Tournament and I didn't even play in that game. That team had fought all year long and to see it pay off when it mattered the most was just the best feeling in the world. As great as that was though, my favorite thing isn't actually a single memory. It would be just how much fun it was to be around all my teammates every single day. We obviously were at the ballpark with each other everyday but we also would just love to hangout every second of the day. We went to class together, ate together, studied together, spent time outside of school together. There was just nothing better than being around your buds everyday.

What piece of coaching or lesson taught through baseball sticks with you most to this day? 

Being a student-athlete at USD prepared me for everything I think. Obviously it prepared me for pro ball but the lessons I learned there translates to everyday life still to this day. The time management skills gained from juggling practice, classes, study hall, and social life set me up perfectly for being able to navigate tough situations in my career. The amount of people I met and worked on projects with from all over the world, gave me perspective on how to become a leader and bring a group of people together from different backgrounds, find some common ground, and work together to achieve a common goal, which happens all the time in every career. Lastly, it taught me to always set goals. It's much easier and fulfilling to put your best effort forward everyday when you have a clear and concise goal that you are working towards. Never be complacent.

What piece of advice would you give to a current USD student-athlete? 

The advice that I would give current USD student-athletes would just be to really enjoy themselves. As competitors, we're usually our hardest critic and it's good to strive for greatness, that's why we do it, but you also need to take some time to celebrate the little wins and give yourself credit for things that you and your teammates accomplish. Being a student-athlete is so demanding but it is also the most fun I've ever had playing a sport. It goes by so fast when you look back on it, so really stay present in the moment, enjoy where you are, don't stress too much about things out of your control, and remember why you started playing your sport in the first place, because you loved it.

What do you miss most from your time being a USD student-athlete?

One thing that I wish I knew as a student-athlete is how much I was going to miss every little part of it. When you're in the weight room at 5AM on a Monday morning, it feels like it's the last place in the world you want to be, but I would give almost anything to be back in that spot with my friends. It always feels like you're going to be playing forever and then one day, it's over. It just goes back to my advice of really being present in the moment and appreciating the things you get to experience as a student-athlete while you're still there.

Can you share your thoughts and feelings about your time as a Torero?

I just really want to get across how much I owe and love the University of San Diego and its athletic program. Some of the best memories of my life are from my time as a Torero and I will always be so appreciative of that. All the people I interacted with, from teammates to coaches to administrators, it was always such an amazing environment of support and at the same time, extremely competitive. We wanted to win and push one another to be the best we could be, and that fostered amazing relationships that we'll be able to enjoy for decades. I'm proud to be a Torero.

We thank PJ for his time and all he’s done to support USD!

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That’s All For Now!

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