Cowley soccer players sign with four-year schools

After record setting seasons for both the Cowley College men and women's soccer teams, four Lady Tiger sophomores signed with NCAA Division II schools and three more Tiger men signed letters of intent to continue their soccer careers at NAIA schools.

Lady Tiger soccer players Manuela Oliveira (four goals, seven assists) and Leticia Belloni (nine goals) signed with Shaw University in North Carolina, while Lucia Fernandez (four goals, two assists) signed with Northwest Missouri State University and Marta Aranda (four goals, two assists) signed with Newman University.

The Lady Tiger soccer players helped Cowley win a school-record 15 games a season ago and continue its string of three consecutive conference titles.

Oliveira and Belloni will join former Lady Tiger teammate Natalya Rubiano Gonzalez at Shaw University.

"The people at Shaw seem really nice and we heard good things about the program," Oliveira said. "It is a perfect opportunity for Leticia and I. Cowley was the best experience of my life. We hope to repeat the success we had at Cowley at Shaw."

Fernandez will join another former Lady Tiger soccer player, Letycia Bonifacio, at Northwest Missouri State. Bonifacio was a first-team all-region selection and garnered Scholar-Athlete honors this past season at NWMSU.

"Cowley was a great experience, I met so many people and grew as a person," Fernandez said. "Northwest Missouri will be good for me to keep learning on the field and in the classroom."

Aranda will join a Newman University soccer program that competes in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

"I am excited about signing with Newman. I really enjoyed my visit and like the team they have there," Aranda said.

Lady Tiger head coach Roberto dos Santos has watched these girls help take the program to new heights.

"I am really happy for each of them," Dos Santos said. "They have represented this institution well and have a passion for Cowley. Their new schools are getting great student-athletes."

Fernandez, Belloni, and Aranda were each named Second Team all-conference performers a season ago.

The three Tiger men's soccer players that signed with four-year schools helped Cowley finish 18-1 and advance to the national tournament during the 2021 season.

Tiger men's soccer player Daniel Santinhos, who appeared in eight games this past season, signed with Ottawa University.

"I am happy for him to find a place that will give him the confidence to explore his potential," Cowley men's head soccer coach Ruy Vaz said. "He is a beast and will do very well in the KCAC. Daniel is such a nice guy and intelligent person, he has a great future ahead of him."

Andre Luiten, who served as a backup goalkeeper, recorded a shutout in his only start of the season. Luiten signed with Westcliff University in California

"Andre is one of the best players I have seen here in terms of improvement," Vaz said. "He has become a better goalkeeper and his confidence is higher after great performances against top Division I schools. I know he will compete for playing time at Westcliff and I am proud of him and his journey at Cowley."

Alfonso Perez, who appeared in six games this past season, signed with the University of Tennessee Southern.

"Alfonso is a teammate that everyone would like to have," Vaz said. "He has a winning mentality and he is part of a historical moment of our program. He learned so much hear and we learned a lot from him. I wish him the best and I know he will perform well in Tennessee."