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Eva Dixon, PCC alumna and current assistant coach of the women’s soccer team recently made her debut playing for the new Los Angeles based semi-professional soccer team, the Strikers.Dixon, 22, who grew up in Los Angeles, has been playing soccer since she was 5 years old, when she played AYSO in Alhambra until she turned 10 years old. It was then that Dixon began training with the Santa Anita club soccer team.

After a successful career playing soccer at South Pasadena High School, Dixon chose to attend the academically-focused, Ivy-league Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. While attending Cornell, she was named MVP of her soccer team, while at the same time, nurtured her academic interests, an achievement she is very proud of.

She plans to attend law school in the near future. Dixon aims toward federal law enforcement or another equally demanding area of the criminal justice system.

“I am very grateful that I made that decision since I have a degree that will help me accomplish my goals, as well as an opportunity to play semi-professional soccer with the LA Strikers,” Dixon said.

Dixon joined the PCC women’s soccer coaching staff in the summer of 2010 as an assistant coach. She found this opportunity both rewarding and challenging.

“The most rewarding aspect of coaching young women at PCC is the opportunity to coach student athletes like myself and repay the guidance and support I received as an undergrad,” Dixon said. “Although it is sometimes a challenge to be young, it has worked to my advantage to be a recent college graduate in my ability to relate with the team, as well as prepare them for athletics and coursework at a four-year university,” she said.

Dixon and the Strikers, who started off the season being coached by Reggie Rivas, are using Robinson Stadium as their home field for their inaugural season. Dixon had several opportunities to play under Rivas as a teen, and was very excited when he invited her to again play with him on his own team, playing as a forward/striker. Rivas believes Dixon is an excellent player who adds a lot to the team.

“We are a team of good players,” Rivas said.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to play locally at Pasadena City College on a top-of-the-line turf field,” said Dixon.

Debbie Caracciolo, one of the owners of the Strikers, hopes that the team’s presence at PCC will inspire future players.

“The Strikers will provide a premier level of women’s soccer that will motivate young women to continue playing beyond club soccer and will, hopefully, serve as a stepping stone to the professional level,” said Caracciolo.

Dixon says that anyone who is interested in playing competitive soccer should always be persistent and demanding of themselves, day in and day out. “Hard work and determination have helped me get this far, and I believe that they will continue to carry me as I pursue my athletic and life goals,” said Dixon.

Athletes who are determined to accomplish their goals and will not let up until they succeed, have always inspired Dixon.

Dixon said that all her experiences as a soccer player have opened up many opportunities for her. She coached at an elementary school in Costa Rica while studying there. She also had the opportunity to coach at the David Beckham Soccer Academy at the Home Depot Center in Carson.

When she is not playing or coaching soccer, Dixon enjoys working with children in the classroom and outdoors. She used to skateboard competitively, but due to the heavy demands of her soccer schedule, has had to cut back. She loves extreme sports like skateboarding, surfing, snowboarding, skydiving, zip lining, and whitewater rafting.

The Strikers’ season runs through July 14. The PCC community has the chance to see Dixon in action during seven home games. More information can be found about the Strikers team at lastrikersfc.com.

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