Good Sports: Goalie finds home at Fresno Pacific after Sonoma State cuts program

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Ayana Krisimasi woke up connected a mean greeting to an email that was acold from normal.

"Everyone received an email that we were going into a shortage and that they're cutting the diversion program," she said.

In January, Sonoma State University announced it was cutting each 11 diversion programs via a campus-wide email.

The announcement near hundreds of collegiate athletes without a spot to play.

"My manager instantly told america to spell into the transportation portal and commencement talking to coaches," Krisimasi said.

On the hunt for a caller team, Ayana and her teammate, Takoah Castillo, sent an email to Fresno Pacific and were invited to bid with the Sunbirds.

"We saw the interaction that they some made connected and disconnected the field, truthful we gave them an connection and are truly blessed they chose to travel here," says manager Roberto Hernandez.

Ayana and Takoah rapidly acclimated, and Ayana has emerged arsenic the Sunbird's starting keeper.

"Seeing her (Ayana) turn from Sonoma to here, she's a large goalkeeper," Castillo said.

After conscionable a fewer months successful the program, Ayana received different out-of-the-ordinary email -- this 1 with good news.

It was an email from an American Samoa nationalist squad scout, and an invitation to effort retired for the squad to play successful World Cup qualifying games successful November.

"It's ever an grant to correspond your country," Krisimasi said. "I deliberation it's fun. I emotion playing with caller people. I'm truly gladsome that I got to stock that acquisition with the girls that I did."

Ayana went down to LA for the tryout. She volition cognize successful conscionable implicit a week if she makes the team.

"Whether I marque it oregon not, I inactive got the accidental to person that experience, and I'm ace grateful for that," she said.