Sobrero assumes role of scoring machine

Cotrney Sobrero is leading women's soccer's assult on net

By Katrina Garcia

It’s not every day a soccer player jogs onto the field and scores three goals, and it’s even more uncommon to see her do it twice in a season that’s nowhere near finished— just like her career.

Sophomore forward Cortney Sobrero has gained national recognition for ranking as one of the highest-scoring players in a season, and the goals keep on coming for Sobrero.

In Sunday’s game against Nevada, she scored the second hat trick of her career , both coming this season.

“It doesn’t matter the competition, it doesn’t matter where you’re playing— if you can score three goals, that’s something special,” head coach Steve Springthrope said. “Some players don’t do it in their entire four-year career.”

Through Sunday’s game, Sobrero had scored 13 goals, surpassing past players’ totals for their careers.

She has also ranked nationally for the number of goals scored in a season—ranking as high as fourth in the nation after she scored her first hat trick against New Mexico—and the average number of goals per match.

What separates Sobrero from other players is her consistent ability to make the goals she attempts.
“When she’s around the box, most of the time she’s going to finish,” Springthrope said.

Sobrero began turning heads her freshman year, when she made her first collegiate start in a match against UC Riverside.

Entering her sophomore year with three career goals, she doubled that number in the Sept. 19 game against New Mexico. Sobrero recorded Fresno State’s first hat trick in four years and led the team to victory over New Mexico.

Yet Sobrero’s love for her teammates and passion for soccer have kept her grounded. She credits the team’s great chemistry for her success.

“I’ve got an excellent team,” Sobrero said. “I’m just there to put the ball in the back of the net. They do all the work.”

Sobrero took after her sister, Lyndsey, and developed a love for the game. She chose to attend Fresno State because she wanted to move away but didn’t want to be too far away from Las Vegas, her hometown.

She cited her family as her huge inspiration, adding that recording her hat trick in New Mexico was the most rewarding achievement because her parents were at the game.

“They’re the reason why I’m here,” Sobrero said. “Everything I do is for them.”

Sobrero said she doesn’t perform any rituals that she thinks will help her win; rather, she just gets on the field and plays her best. Despite her growing recognition as a strong goal-scorer, she believes she can always perfect her game.

“I’m never at my potential,” Sobrero said. “I can improve every day.”

Sobrero has high goals for the season’s remainder and herself, and Springthrope can see her achieving those goals.

“As a sophomore, she’s certainly got a great career ahead of her,” Springthrope said. “Hopefully what she’ll provide us for the rest of the year is just what she did [in the Nevada match].”

As for her personal goals, Sobrero said she hopes to “get the best out of the experiences as I can and learn as much as possible.”

For this sophomore standout, the possibilities look endless.