Team of the Week: Second-year coach orchestrates Toreros’ turnaround in women’s soccer

The University of San Diego women’s soccer team was picked to finish 10th among the 12 West Coast Conference schools ahead of the 2025 season.

“It’s a bad poll,” Toreros central defender Abigail Colton said Tuesday morning. “We have way too much talent. I think we can win this conference.”

“We’re on a mission,” added forward Amanda Anders, a freshman out of Mission Hills High School who has already been named the WCC’s Offensive Player of the Week twice in the first three weeks of the 2025 season.

In fact, the Toreros (2-0-3) are undefeated after five games for the first time since 2008. Counting five spring games, two alumni games and two exhibitions, the club hasn’t lost in 14 matches.

“You haven’t seen anything yet,” said Greg LaPorte, who is starting his second season as the USD women’s soccer coach. “It’s a good start. And we’re going to keep pushing. We’re in a really good place. We’ve got the right mix of players culture-wise and for our playing style. I’m surprised by how fast we’re tracking.”

Anders is one of eight freshmen LaPorte and top recruiter Matt Hall brought in this year. Four of them, including Anders, graduated from local high schools.

Colton is among seven transfers who have bolstered the USD roster under LaPorte.

In 2023, the USD women went 1-15-2. Last season, they improved to 3-11-5 in their first season under LaPorte.

And this year?

“I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people,” Colton said.

Colton knows what it takes to be a collegiate power in women’s soccer. Last season, Colton and her twin sister Emily were starters on the Wake Forest team that lost to North Carolina in the NCAA championship game.

While Emily Colton turned pro, Abigail — a Carlsbad native and La Costa Canyon High School product — decided to return home to play her graduate season at USD. She is pursuing a master’s degree in American Family Therapy.

“When I first got here as the only graduate student and a transfer, I was worried about meshing. But it turned out that everyone was on the same page,” she said. “We quickly became friends beyond teammates. We don’t see each other as competition. It’s been more of doing what’s best for each other. Everyone wants to boost the program. It shows the type of player being added here.”

LaPorte knew he needed to bolster the roster when he became the head coach on the final day of 2023. The Toreros didn’t have many locals on the roster, “and some of the best youth and high school soccer is played here,” he said.

USD now has 11 local players, including freshmen Anders, Hailey Vermilyea (Poway High School), Paige Bickley (Santa Fe Christian), Macy Ratermann (Westview High School), redshirt freshman goalkeeper Chloe Walls (Francis Parker) and transfers Colton, Maquena O’Callaghan (San Pasqual High School and Auburn), Olivia Jandreski (Torrey Pines High School and Grand Canyon) and Jenna Rubidoux (Christian High School and Air Force).

Anders leads the WCC with four goals despite missing one game with a concussion. Walls leads the conference in goals-against average (0.474) and has already been named WCC Defensive Player of the Week.

Highly recruited, Anders committed to TCU as a sophomore in high school but opted to transfer to USD to stay closer to home.

Anders’ mother, Sherice Bartling Anders, played soccer at USD. Her maternal grandparents were both nationally ranked sprinters in track. Amanda Anders scored 75 goals in high school, including 37 as a junior when she was named CIF Player of the Year.

“It’s a blessing to be playing at home in front of my family,” said Anders. “And we’re all here at USD 100% committed to prove something. I think we’re hungry for results.”

Said Colton: “I want to make history in this program.”

Every week during the school year, U-T contributor Bill Center highlights one San Diego college team that’s making strides on and off the field. To nominate a team, email wcenter27@gmail.com.