SMC Soccer Player Renee Escobar Signs with Cal State Dominguez Hills

Santa Monica College (SMC) soccer player Renee Escobar has received a full-ride scholarship to Cal State Dominguez Hills. As one of the older members of the team, Escobar didn’t anticipate being a great asset to the team. “I honestly never expect it,” said Escobar.

(Clyde Bates Jr/ The Corsair)

Escobar began her endeavor in Upland, Calif. She attended Upland High School back in 2008 where her team won the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Championship. After high school, she took a few years off and finally returned to school in 2015. She enrolled at SMC and quickly made her way into the team.

She began her career as a center defender and was then moved to left defender in her second year. She praises Head Coach Aaron Benditson for never giving up on her.

Escobar faced a handful of injuries during her time as a Corsair. She tore her ACL in 2017 which led her to sit out the rest of the season. She made a comeback in 2018, but again suffered an injury this time tearing her menisci mid-season.

“I get my crutches off next week and I continue going to therapy,” said Escobar. She is expected to be cleared to play by the time she sets foot at Dominguez Hills. Her ultimate goal is to be either a doctor or a nurse anesthetist and care for people in impoverished countries. Her inspiration comes from her parents’ home countries of Honduras and Guatemala. “It’s not about the money, for me, it’s about making a difference in my community,” says Escobar.