SAN DIEGO - San Diego women's soccer signed four players to NLIs on Thursday head coach
Louise Lieberman announced. The class includes three West Coast natives and one player from Wisconsin.
"Aryssa, Maronne, Leah and Lex will be tremendous additions to our team," said Lieberman. "They all bring different, positive qualities that will allow them to contribute to our program. I am beyond excited they are Toreros!"
Aryssa Mahrt will join the Toreros from Milwaukee Wisconsin. The midfielder will finish her high school career at Perry High School in Chandler, Ariz. Mahrt was a member of FC Wisconsin from 2016 to 2018 and now plays for AZ Arsenal.
Mahrt boasts international experience making the U16 and U14 U.S. Soccer Youth National Team in 2017 and 2016. She also participated in the 2016 National I.D. 2 camp. Her family's international soccer roots run deep as her great grandfather played for the Malaysia National Team in 1946.
"Aryssa has an eye for the goal; she finds pockets in the midfield to be able to create chances for her team," said Lieberman. "Her quickness, skill, and vision lend to her ability to make an immediate impact on the game."
Off the field, Mahrt is a member of the French Honor Society and has been named to the honor roll multiple times.
"I fell in love with the campus and city of San Diego right away," said Mahrt. "The campus location and fields of study fit perfectly with what I was looking for. After seeing the team's dynamic, I felt I would be a really good fit at San Diego."
Maronne Suzuki joins San Diego from Seattle, Wash. having prepped at Ingraham High School. The midfielder boasts high-level club experience playing with Crossfire Premier SC for the past six years. Suzuki's club team garnered recognition on the national stage being ranked No. 1 in the country in 2017.
Suzuki also brings international experience to USD spending a semester of her sophomore year living in Barcelona to train with the U16 FC Barcelona Academy. She also spent July 2019 in Japan to train with the Japanese Football Academy Fukushima.
"Maronne is an extremely technical player that absolutely loves the game," said Lieberman. "She plays as if she's watched billions of professional games and tries to emulate what she sees. Her vision and skill add up to someone who will be a strong contributor as a playmaker and scorer."
Suzuki is the daughter of Takahisa and Christina and has one sibling, Senshin. Suzuki has been active in her community serving as a camp counselor at Camp Casey for two years and coaching the XF juniors.
"I chose USD because I instantly clicked with the coaches," said Suzuki. "When I first toured San Diego, I fell in love with the campus. I love the city and the school has an environment I believe I can thrive in."
Simi Valley, Calif. native Leah Pirro also joins the Toreros. The midfielder prepped at Grace Brethren and was a part of a CIF finalist team and Tri-Valley League Championship.
Pirro played club with Real So Cal and the Eagles Soccer Club. Her team won the Surf Cup Championship back in 2017. Pirro scored seven goals in 26 games during the 2018-19 club season, recording a .839 shot percentage.
"Leah has characteristics to be the glue on the field," said Lieberman. "Her technical ability and composure on the ball allows her to connect her passes consistently to help keep possession. Her confidence and composure on the ball assists in her valuable decision-making."
Pirro is one of four sisters in her family, and her older sister Emma played collegiate soccer at Liberty.
"San Diego had everything I was looking for in a school," said Pirro. "It's a smaller campus close to my family and the beach. The competitive soccer program as well as high academic standards made it a great fit."
Lexi Kaz rounds out the Class of 2024. The Los Angeles native prepped at Wildwood High School a dual-sport athlete playing soccer and basketball. She was named to the All-Coastal League first team in 2017 for her performance on the court.
On the soccer field, Kaz has been a member of two Coastal League Championship teams and earned All-Coastal League first team honors for two consecutive seasons. The forward leads her high school in most goals during a single season and has served as her club team's co-captain for two seasons.
"Lexi is a smart technical forward that loves to play with her back to goal or facing up," said Lieberman. "With her hard work rate to find the ball, she is able to be dangerous on many parts of the field."
Off the field, Kaz has worked to serve international communities traveling to Guatemala, Belize, and India for service projects. Kaz has one twin sister, Grace.
"I believe at USD I will be given the tools to excel as a student and as a Division I athlete," said Kaz.
