Ventura College alumna Yadira Toraya '11 has a chance to make it to the world's biggest soccer stage. She has been named the first alternate for the Mexican National team as Las Tri prepares for the FIFA Women's World Cup that begins June 6 in Canada. Toraya would be the first player called up should the team have an injury or illness to one of its 23 permitted squad members. Mexico is in Group F with England, France and begins play on June 9 against Colombia.
Toraya's ascent to the team began in February at an open tryout at Cerritos College. She performed well and was invited to a fitness boot camp in Acapulco, Mexico with some members of the national team in April.
After camp, Toraya was informed she would be invited to joint the team for the Pan-American Games that would follow the World Cup, as she had joined the process so close to the quadrennial event this summer. An injury to one of the team members, however, she was asked to suit up for their international friendly against the US Women's National Team last week.
Following that contest, Toraya was named the first alternate for the World Cup. Each team is permitted to have 23 players on the roster, and she is currently No. 24. One injury or illness to a team member could be Yadira's ticket to the world's biggest stage.
Toraya, a Pacifica High School product, was an All-Western State Conference performer for Ventura College in 2009 and 2010. She appeared in 43 games, scoring 18 goals with 21 assists, helping lead the Pirates to the WSC title as a sophomore. She also helped lead VC to the CCCAA State Final Four her freshman season.
She transferred to Kansas Wesleyan University, where she was the Coyotes' Offensive Player of the Year as a junior, and Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. She netted 16 goals in two seasons at KWU with seven assists, and was named an NSCAA All-American.
Since her graduation in 2013, she has played semi-professionally with the Santa Clarita Heat, and this year received a invitation to training camp with the Houston Dash of the National Women's Soccer League, which features some of the best players in the country and some key international players, as well. Toraya made it to the final day of camp before being let go.
Toraya is the second Pirate alumna to play for the Mexican National Team. VC Hall of Famer Barbara Almarez '99 played for Las Tri from 1999 to 2002 in the World Cup, Pan-Am Games and the World University Games.