LAS CRUCES, N.M. – On Thursday, head women's soccer coach
Rob Baarts announced the signing of third-year Spanish defender Carolina Rodriguez – a transfer from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette.
Rodriguez becomes the fifth Aggie signing this off-season after the team announced the signing of three other players –
Karolanne Lafortune (GK),
Shila Rasoul (F),
Emma O'Neill (MF) and
Ariana Leamons (MF) – earlier in the offseason.
Carolina Rodriguez
Junior | Defender | 5-5 | Zaragoza, Spain | Louisiana Lafayette
- Rodriguez comes to Las Cruces having spent the last two seasons playing for the University of Louisiana Lafayette where she made 33 appearances – seven starts – for the Ragin' Cajuns as a defender.
- Last season, Rodriguez played in 17 games for the Cajuns, logging in 429 minutes for their backfield, including season highs in minutes against Idaho (51') and South Alabama (48').
- During her first year with the program, Rodriguez made 16 appearances with nearly half coming as starts. She accumulated 700 minutes for the team, while recording two goals, four points and five shots on goal.
- The defender from Spain scored her first career goal in a game against Arkansas-Little Rock (10/14/21) where she played 62 minutes - taking two shots on goal - en route to a 3-0 shutout victory over the Trojans.
- Her second career goal came shortly after in a 1-1 draw against Texas State (10/17/21) where Rodriguez played 69 minutes, recording a goal on four shots attempts – just three days after securing her first career score.
- Before making her way to the U.S., Rodriguez was a member Zaragoza CFF of the Segunda Federación – a second tier women's soccer league in Spain – where she helped her team to league championships in 2017-18 and 2019-20.
- While playing for UD Montecarlo, Rodriguez helped her club to a 2014-15 league championship and earned Best Player Honors in 2016-17.
