WSOC Newcomer Series: Midfielder Cassandra Taniguchi
Aug 18 | Women's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - With the 2015 season getting underway, ScarletKnights.com will bring you brief Q&As with all seven newcomers of the Rutgers women's soccer team. This installment features freshman midfielder Cassandra Taniguchi (San Diego, Calif.), who joined Rutgers this season from The Golden State.
#18 Cassandra Taniguchi
Position: M | Height: 5-2
Prior to Rutgers: Played club soccer for the San Diego Surf, widely regarded as a top soccer club nationally… was selected for the SoCal ODP pool from 2007-12 … her club team won the state cup and captured the US Youth Soccer Regional Championship in 2010 … scored the game-winner to advance her team to the finals … won the Surf Cup in 2013 … a two-year participant in the US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer program ... four-year varsity letterwinner at Westview HS … scored the game-winning goal to secure the first girls soccer state championship in Westview HS history in 2014 … led the squad to the San Diego Section CIF finals from 2012-14, winning the title in 2013.
Personal: Daughter of Douglas and Janice … has one sibling, Trisha … intends to double major in exercise science and sports management.
Scarletknights.com: Why did you choose Rutgers?
Cassie Taniguchi: Aside from the soccer itself, the coaching staff was very welcoming and the team was warm, so that made me more comfortable with being so far away from home.
SK.com: What have your impressions been of your first preseason camp?
CT: It has definitely been hard, but I was expecting it to be hard. Everyone is putting in a lot of work which is really good. We come in, get it done, and then we're done for the day which is good. We have hard sessions but we get the work done which is expected with being a good school and team that's ranked in the top 25.
SK.com: When did you first start playing soccer?
CT: I've been playing soccer since I've been walking. I've been playing my whole life.
SK.com: What is your favorite part about playing soccer?
CT: The feeling that you get when not only you are putting in all the work, but you're teammates and everyone are too. It just shows how much it means to everyone.
SK.com: Favorite food, TV show, and music?
CT: Food - probably type time of pasta. TV show - I was a big fan of One Tree Hill and Friday Night Lights and pretty much any Netflix show. Music - I like a lot of country music.
SK.com: Are you looking forward to your first year in school?
CT: It's definitely going to be a lot different since. I've been here for 20 days and there haven't been many people on campus. It's just going to be different with a lot of people on top of all the practices and balancing out school. All my classes are on Monday and Wednesdays, so it's going to be all day on those days. On the other days I'll be at study hall and stuff. It may be difficult to manage at first but I think I'll be able to get it sorted out.
SK.com: What are your personal goals for the season?
CT: I think it would be awesome, since there are a lot of girls on the team, just to be able to travel with everyone and get as many minutes as I can and make an impact on the team.
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