Soccer Alumni Report: Rodriguez, Fuentes stand out with Vikings

Soccer Alumni Report: Rodriguez, Fuentes stand out with Vikings

Former Irvine Valley women's soccer player standouts Emily Rodriguez and Cassie Fuentes finished up their college careers last fall at NAIA Missouri Valley College.

The duo helped Missouri Valley finish in 21st in the 2021 NAIA Women's Soccer Coaches' Top 25 Postseason Poll.

The team finished with an overall record of 14-6-1, with a 9-2-1 record in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The 14 wins was the third-most in a single-season in program-history.

Missouri Valley placed second in the conference standings, and earned an automatic berth into the 2021 NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship, the second-straight National postseason appearance for the program. 

The Vikings suffered a 3-2 overtime loss to No. 17 Reinhardt (Ga.) in the first round of the Hattiesburg (Miss.) Bracket back on Nov. 18, 2021.

Missouri Valley played five teams Nationally ranked to finish the season.  The Vikings defeated No. 22 Benedictine (Kan.), twice.  A 2-1 road win back on Sept. 22, and a 2-0 win at home in the Heart Postseason Tournament semifinals, Nov. 10.  The team finished 2-5 against Nationally ranked opponents.

Fuentes, a senior defender, played in 18 matches and started 16 contests. She finished with three assists on the year.

Rodriguez, a senior forward, competed in 21 matches and stared nine games. She ended the 2021 season with four goals and two assists, including two game-winning goals.