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Cissell's 1st class brings quartet for 2021
11/11/2020 11:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Trio of Phoenix-area products join Missouri standout as GCU signees
The first signing class for Grand Canyon head coach Chris Cissell will bring four talented players to GCU for the 2021 season.
Signees Destinee Duran, Renee Sainz and Jenna Custer are from Arizona while Maya Gaona joins Cissell from Missouri.
"We are thrilled and excited to welcome this great recruiting class to beautiful Grand Canyon University and into our awesome GCU women's soccer family," Cissell said. "We are building a first-class program on and off the field and these four student-athletes are not only great people but they are very good athletes and tremendous soccer players. Our 2021 recruiting class will assist us in our process of continuing to build a great culture and a fun, passionate and competitive family atmosphere here at GCU."
THE PLAYER: Custer greatly improved her offensive numbers going from two goals and five assists in 2018 to 11 goals and six assists in 2019. Custer has led Casteel High School to a pair of state titles, one in 2017 as a freshman and most recently in 2020, when the Colts defeated Ironwood Ridge 3-0 in the 5A championship game. Custer earned 2019 all-region honorable mention and has earned back-to-back Sports360AZ All-Academic Team honors.
THE PERSON: Custer is the youngest of three siblings with an older brother Cody and sister Riley. She chose the Lopes because it is close to home and she enjoys the environment at GCU Stadium. She enjoys hiking, running and hanging out with friends and family.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Jenna is a very talented winger and can play on both wings for us. Custer is a hard-working player with good technical abilities and pace that will help her to have success at the collegiate level of competition." – Cissell
THE PLAYER: Duran has competed with SC del Sol soccer club since 2017, appearing in 84 games with 77 starts. In 2016, she was part of the penalty shootout that led to a state cup win and booked SC del Sol to the regionals in Idaho.
THE PERSON: Destinee has three brothers and her hobbies include hanging out with friends and family and watching anime. She plans to major in sports management and chose GCU because it is close to home and she loved the environment.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Destinee is a very talented defensive player that has the versatility to play in all positions along our back-four defensive shape. Duran is a defensive player that has the ability to make runs out of the back and get involved offensively as well." – Cissell
THE PLAYER: Gaona is a goal-scoring machine, tallying up 46 goals for the Liberty Bluejays including 29 her freshman year. Maya scored two goals in the 2019 Class 4 state title for Liberty, leading the Blue Jays to a 23-2 record. Gaona was named to the all-district and all-conference first teams in 2019 and earned regional honors. In 2018, she also made the all-conference first team as well as all-district second team.
THE PERSON: Gaona plans on studying nursing at GCU and she enjoys thrift shopping, fishing, sewing and spending time with friends and family.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Maya is a very talented attacking player who will bring a competitive spirit and a hard-working attitude to us. Gaona has the ability to combine well with her teammates to create scoring opportunities and can score goals on her own." – Cissell
THE PLAYER: Sainz, teammates with Custer at Casteel High School, won the state title as a freshman in 2017, scoring 23 goals with 15 assists in 22 games. Sainz also played for Utah Royals FC, scoring 15 goals in 52 games. In her senior season, Sainz will be back at Casteel and will also join the Arizona Arsenal Soccer Club.
THE PERSON: Renee plans to major in marketing and advertising at GCU. She chose the Lopes because "of the Christian environment and it's wonderful soccer program." Off the field, Sainz enjoys attending Rockpoint Church in Queen Creek and cheering on the U.S. women's national team and F.C. Barcelona.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Renee is a very talented attacking player who has the versatility to play in several positions for us. Sainz's unique ability to score goals on her own and to create goals for her teammates will help her to enjoy great success at the collegiate level" – Cissell
Note: GCU added signee Jaylie Hicklin to this class in December. Her release can be found here.
Signees Destinee Duran, Renee Sainz and Jenna Custer are from Arizona while Maya Gaona joins Cissell from Missouri.
"We are thrilled and excited to welcome this great recruiting class to beautiful Grand Canyon University and into our awesome GCU women's soccer family," Cissell said. "We are building a first-class program on and off the field and these four student-athletes are not only great people but they are very good athletes and tremendous soccer players. Our 2021 recruiting class will assist us in our process of continuing to build a great culture and a fun, passionate and competitive family atmosphere here at GCU."
MEET THE 2021 CLASS |
players listed alphabetically
JENNA CUSTER
Forward - Gilbert, Ariz. - Casteel HS
Signed!✏️ Welcome to GCU @jenna_custer! #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/M90smblKFD
— GCU Women's Soccer (@GCU_WSoccer) November 11, 2020
THE PLAYER: Custer greatly improved her offensive numbers going from two goals and five assists in 2018 to 11 goals and six assists in 2019. Custer has led Casteel High School to a pair of state titles, one in 2017 as a freshman and most recently in 2020, when the Colts defeated Ironwood Ridge 3-0 in the 5A championship game. Custer earned 2019 all-region honorable mention and has earned back-to-back Sports360AZ All-Academic Team honors.
THE PERSON: Custer is the youngest of three siblings with an older brother Cody and sister Riley. She chose the Lopes because it is close to home and she enjoys the environment at GCU Stadium. She enjoys hiking, running and hanging out with friends and family.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Jenna is a very talented winger and can play on both wings for us. Custer is a hard-working player with good technical abilities and pace that will help her to have success at the collegiate level of competition." – Cissell
DESTINEE DURAN
Defender - Phoenix, Ariz. - University HS and Lighthouse Academy
Our third Arizona signee, welcome to GCU @Destinee_15_! #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/CxCIMGoYKF
— GCU Women's Soccer (@GCU_WSoccer) November 11, 2020
THE PLAYER: Duran has competed with SC del Sol soccer club since 2017, appearing in 84 games with 77 starts. In 2016, she was part of the penalty shootout that led to a state cup win and booked SC del Sol to the regionals in Idaho.
THE PERSON: Destinee has three brothers and her hobbies include hanging out with friends and family and watching anime. She plans to major in sports management and chose GCU because it is close to home and she loved the environment.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Destinee is a very talented defensive player that has the versatility to play in all positions along our back-four defensive shape. Duran is a defensive player that has the ability to make runs out of the back and get involved offensively as well." – Cissell
MAYA GAONA
Forward - Liberty, Mo. - Liberty HS
It's official, welcome to GCU @mayagaona1! #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/YpLnTpu8Gh
— GCU Women's Soccer (@GCU_WSoccer) November 11, 2020
THE PLAYER: Gaona is a goal-scoring machine, tallying up 46 goals for the Liberty Bluejays including 29 her freshman year. Maya scored two goals in the 2019 Class 4 state title for Liberty, leading the Blue Jays to a 23-2 record. Gaona was named to the all-district and all-conference first teams in 2019 and earned regional honors. In 2018, she also made the all-conference first team as well as all-district second team.
THE PERSON: Gaona plans on studying nursing at GCU and she enjoys thrift shopping, fishing, sewing and spending time with friends and family.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Maya is a very talented attacking player who will bring a competitive spirit and a hard-working attitude to us. Gaona has the ability to combine well with her teammates to create scoring opportunities and can score goals on her own." – Cissell
RENEE SAINZ
Midfield - Queen Creek, Ariz. - Casteel HS
Welcome to the GCU soccer family @Renee_Sainz02! #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/JCSrEx8udQ
— GCU Women's Soccer (@GCU_WSoccer) November 11, 2020
THE PLAYER: Sainz, teammates with Custer at Casteel High School, won the state title as a freshman in 2017, scoring 23 goals with 15 assists in 22 games. Sainz also played for Utah Royals FC, scoring 15 goals in 52 games. In her senior season, Sainz will be back at Casteel and will also join the Arizona Arsenal Soccer Club.
THE PERSON: Renee plans to major in marketing and advertising at GCU. She chose the Lopes because "of the Christian environment and it's wonderful soccer program." Off the field, Sainz enjoys attending Rockpoint Church in Queen Creek and cheering on the U.S. women's national team and F.C. Barcelona.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Renee is a very talented attacking player who has the versatility to play in several positions for us. Sainz's unique ability to score goals on her own and to create goals for her teammates will help her to enjoy great success at the collegiate level" – Cissell
Note: GCU added signee Jaylie Hicklin to this class in December. Her release can be found here.
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