SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento State head women's soccer coach Randy Dedini announced Wednesday that four more standout student-athletes have signed on with the Hornets for the 2024 season.
Three of the four signees are transfers as goalkeeper Zara Mujica joins the program after two seasons at Cosumnes River College, forward/midfielder Candace Ching comes to Sacramento State after spending her freshman year at nearby Nevada, and midfielder Alejandra Melendez dons the green and gold after spending one year at Montana and the last three at Dominican University. The lone freshman comes by way of Woodcreek HS in Roseville, Calif., in the form of forward/midfielder Tierra Pickell.
The quartet joins a trio of freshmen who signed National Letters of Intent back in November: midfielder Izzy Scott (Auburn, Calif. / Del Oro HS), midfielder Jules Colchico (Clayton, Calif. / Northgate HS), and defender Jaety Mandaquit (Hilo, Hawai'i / Real Salt Lake Academy).
Brief bios on the four newest members of the program are below.
Sacramento State finished its 2023 campaign with a 4-9-5 overall record and a 2-3-3 mark in Big Sky Conference play, qualifying for the league tournament for the fourth time since 2019 — and the 14th time overall — as the No. 5 seed. Four Hornets picked up All-Big Sky honors as junior midfielder Abigail Lopez was named to the all-league first team for the first time in her career, while freshman goalkeeper Izzy Palmatier, junior defender Erika Tilford, and senior defender Sammy Wong were named to the honorable mention squad.
ZARA MUJICA
5-6 • Jr. • Goalkeeper
Cardiff, Wales / Abersychan School
Cosumnes River College
PRIOR TO SACRAMENTO STATE
Played two seasons with Hawks in 2022 and 2023… In 21 matches as a sophomore, she allowed only 11 goals for a 0.55 goals against average and made 65 saves to go along with an .855 save percentage… Finished 11-2-1 in net with 12 shutouts… Led the Big 8 Conference in shutouts while finishing fourth in saves, second in save percentage, second in fewest goals allowed, third in wins, and third in minutes played… Named team captain and team MVP while helping the Hawks to a Big 8 Conference title and the CCCAA "Final Four"… As a freshman in 2022, finished with a 0.97 GAA (fifth in the league) in 21 matches, making a league-high 89 saves and an .817 save percentage — which ranked third in the league… Finished 9-6-3 in net with six shutouts — which ranked second in the league — while her nine wins were tied for third… Born in Mostoles, Madrid, Spain… Parents are Ramon and Luz… Has an older brother, Luis… Competed for CD Tacon (Real Madrid Femenino) while living in Spain and trained with the Welsh Women's National Team.
Head Coach Randy Dedini says: "Zara is a talented goalkeeper who comes to us with a lot of college games under her belt. She's a very good shot stopper with an excellent ability to distribute with her hands and feet. Having the experiences that Zara has had should allow her to come in and compete with confidence."
CANDACE CHING
5-5 • RFr. • Forward/Midfielder
Mililani, Hawai'i / Punahou School
Nevada
PRIOR TO SACRAMENTO STATE
On the roster at the University of Nevada, but did not play her true freshman season with the Wolf Pack in 2023… Competed at the Punahou School in O'ahu, Hawaii ... Helped her team to a championship in 2023 and a runner-up finish in 2022 in the HHSAA Division I state playoffs ... Participated in the 2021 ODP West Region ID Camp and was placed on the Hawaii State ODP Team that competed at the USYS Region IV Championships twice ... Was the Under 19 division's leading scorer in the Major Island Soccer Organization Junior League in the Fall of 2021 ... Competed for the Hawaii Rush 04G soccer club… Daughter of Florence and Andrew Ching ... Has one brother, Cameron.
Head Coach Randy Dedini says: "Candace is a technical player with a lot of positional versatility. Her strong soccer IQ allows her to play multiple positions effectively and will allow her to compete for time at multiple spots."
ALEJANDRA MELENDEZ
5-0 • Sr. • Midfielder
Oakland, Calif. / Bishop O'Dowd HS
Dominican University
PRIOR TO SACRAMENTO STATE
Played three seasons for the Penguins from 2021-23… Scored three goals as a sophomore in 2021, putting six of her 13 shot attempts on frame…Appeared in 14 matches that year with eight starts... Earned Academic All-PacWest honors that year, finishing second on the team in goals… Netted a goal on 19 shots in 2022, collecting the game-winning score against Academy of Art in a 3-0 win on Oct. 16… Appeared in 15 games, making 13 starts, putting nine of her 19 shots on frame… As a junior in 2023, started 18 matches with a team-high four goals, putting 13 of her 33 shots on goal… Played her freshman season at Big Sky rival Montana in 2020-21… Earned Academic All-Big Sky honors… Appeared in five matches, attempting two shots — both against Sacramento State in an overtime win over the Hornets on April 4 during that pandemic-delayed spring season… Helped the Lady Griz to a Big Sky Conference championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance… Played varsity as a freshman in 2017, helping the Dragons to a league title with a 10-0-0 record without allowing a goal… She was the only freshman to appear in every match that season… Daughter of Gabriela Villareal… Has a younger brother Ivan… Played club soccer for the De Anza Force ECNL/California Thorns DA… Selected for the NorCal Regional Player Development Program from 2013-15 and the NorCal State Player Development Program from 2015-17… Walked on to the state ODP team from 2015-16… Magna Cum Laude graduate from Bishop O'Dowd.
Head Coach Randy Dedini says: "I'm excited about Alejandra and what she will bring to our team. She has a lot of college experience as a creative playmaker and she makes the players around her better."
TIERRA PICKELL
5-6 • Fr. • Forward/Midfielder
Roseville, Calif. / Woodcreek HS
PRIOR TO SACRAMENTO STATE
In two varsity seasons with the Timberwolves, finished with 11 goals in 30 matches to go with a pair of assists for 24 points… Finished with six goals in 2022-23 and added five more as a senior in 2023-24… Helped Woodcreek HS to its fourth straight Capital Valley Conference title with a 12-0-1 record as a junior and was an All-CVC first team selection as a senior… Parents are Tyler PIckell and Demisha Adams… Played club soccer for Placer United… Four-year member of the honor roll… President's Education Award winner… Earned an academic award for engineering.
Head Coach Randy Dedini says: "Tierra is an intelligent player who has excelled at the highest level in club soccer. Physically, Tierra is college ready and she's exceptional at winning aerial challenges."
