Four years ago, lifelong soccer player Yesenia Tijerina stopped playing when the pandemic shut everything down. Her classes at UC Davis were taken online at her home in Salinas.
Tijerina started her soccer journey at age 5, playing on a boys’ team in Salinas. Years later, she joined a travel team and played on a girls squad. Then she competed for Alisal High School. Now she wasn’t on a team.
“Going to school online had a big impact on me because in high school I was always staying after school for practice and everything else, and then just completely changed to staying at home and being in online class all day,” Tijerina said. “It was a big toll on my mental health. I didn’t feel like myself and I had to make a decision. I missed playing soccer.”
An opportunity to lace up her cleats again was just a mile from her home. Hartnell College had a strong women’s soccer program for two-year institutions. She reached out to head coach Ivan Guerrero, initially to get help securing classes.
Tijerina recalls Guerrero saying, “You are planning on playing soccer, right?”
“Yes, if you allow me,” was Tijerina’s response.
Tijerina went on to help Hartnell win its first 3C2A state women’s soccer championship in 2021. She played one more season in her hometown, winning the league title before being discovered by UC Merced head coach Roman DuChateau at a sophomore showcase.
“Yesenia played for a really, really good Hartnell program,” DuChateau said. “Her versatility stood out. We knew we wanted to have her and we knew we had to get her. We were very fortunate she decided to become a Bobcat.”
Tijerina said similarities between Salinas and Merced were a final selling point. Both have large Hispanic populations. In addition, more than half of UC Merced’s student body identifies as Hispanic. She returned to the pitch with UC Merced, won championships and became one of the top players in the California Pacific Conference.
“I feel great at UC Merced,” said Tijerina, who is majoring in psychology. “Thinking back, I don’t know how I would have reacted going to a city where I wouldn’t feel as welcomed as I do here. I do feel like I am at home here. Even my teammates, the girls that I am close with, I feel that we share the same values and beliefs.
“I knew this place felt right from the very first time I came here.”
