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Sumiyasu to Join Bulldogs

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Ayana Sumiyasu, a Flintridge Prep 2007 graduate, will attend Yale University this fall as one of five new freshman to compete on the Bulldogs’ women’s soccer team.

Sumiyasu spent most of her last high school season on the injured list due to a partially torn posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) in her left knee during tournament play in December.

The injury didn’t keep her down, however, and Sumiyasu came back in the playoffs to get some time on the field.

In postseason play, Sumiyasu made 25 saves for the Rebels, who finished third in the Prep League and had a disappointing playoff run, losing in the first round to Santa Monica.

Despite her unremarkable final season with the Rebels, Sumiyasu’s determination and sheer talent were enough to propel her to the highest ranks of high school female athletes.

Sumiyasu, an Altadena native, was the 2006 Defensive Most Valuable Player in the Prep League and a three-time first team all-area selection at Flintridge Prep.

She was selected as one of the Top 10 Female Athletes of the Year in 2006 and was a two-time team captain. Her career save percentage at Flintridge was .860.

Sumiyasu also traveled quite a bit, playing in tournaments across the country and for the Japan Under-19 national team in 2007.

The 5-foot-8 goalkeeper was in the U.S. U16 National Team pool in 2005 and the U16 Developmental Camp in 2006. Her Cal South State Team Starter was the Olympic Development Program’s national champion in 2006 and the Region IV champion in 2006 and 2007.

Sumiyasu also played club soccer for Southern California team the Slammers Futbol Club, the San Diego Surf Girls Cup 2006 U19 Super Group champions.

“With both incredible academics and competitive athletics, Yale offers everything that I was looking for in a school,” Sumiyasu said. “I’m very excited to be a part of the Yale tradition next year and, with any luck, we might be able to improve on the 2005 NCAA Tournament showing.”

Look for Sumiyasu wearing the Yale blue as the team starts play at the end of August.

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