By Lindsey Allen |Staff Writer|
Jani Carmona-Urbano is a career and family-focused athlete who is working hard to bring her best to the CSUSB women’s soccer team her senior year.
Carmona-Urbano is currently a forward on the CSUSB womens’ soccer team.
She started out her college soccer career by playing her freshman season at Hawaii-Hilo in 2007 for current CSUSB coach Travis Clarke. She had two game-winning goals, including the team’s first win of the year against Hawaii Pacific.
As a sophomore in 2010, Carmona-Urbano impressively scored in 14 of the team’s 18 games and earned the school’s female Pup of the Year award, which is given to the best debut season by a Coyote. Additionally she earned second-team Daktronics West Region honors and named second-team All-CCAA.
As a junior in 2011, she broke her arm in the second preseason game after swinging her arm and hitting it on the head of a girl on the opposing team. Due to this, Carmona-Urbano was out for six games and during this time the team was 0-5-1.
When she returned to the field she helped the team to an eight game undefeated streak. She added goals against Cal State LA and Cal State East Bay, and also earned an honorable mention All-CCAA.
Carmona-Urbano is passionate about her team and stressed on how much she loves them.
“It’s the most special team I have ever been on,” she said. “I wish I had more years with them. I love all of them.”
When asked what her goals for the team this year are, she said, “To win the national championship. Everyone wants to be a champion. I’ve never been one, and I’m hoping this year I can become one.”
Carmona-Urbano was inspired by her father to play soccer growing up because he played professional soccer in Mexico. As a child she always watched him play which influenced her to pursue the sport.
Carmona-Urbano is majoring in Mass Communication and her career goal is to work for ESPN.
“Behind the scenes, on camera…anything,” she said.
Married with a 3 1/2 year-old daughter, she expressed how much spending time with her family means to her. She loves to be around them and to cook for them.
One of her main goals in life is to eventually own a house. “I want a house that my daughter can call home. That’s really important to me. I’ve always been in apartments so it’s a huge goal of mine,” she said.
She also coaches an under-9 girls’ soccer team in her spare time and says she really enjoys coaching.
Carmona-Urbano will surely continue to help drive her team to success with her skills and passion for soccer. Upon graduating in June, she will continue her road to success in hopes of achieving her dreams while focusing on her family.